Sequestration Impacts Ninth Annual National Memorial Day Parade

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 2013 National Memorial Day Parade, the largest Memorial Day parade in the country, will take place on Monday, May 27 at 2:00 P.M. along Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. While the current sequestration has forced the cancellation of many events honoring our military – including air shows across the country and Fleet Week in New York City – the National Memorial Day Parade will go on with one of its best events yet.

The Parade is also set to be nationally televised in more than 100 local markets across the country, with live coverage to our military men and women around the world on The Pentagon Channel and American Forces Network. Still, despite the size and scale of the event, the sequestration has had a major impact on parade sponsors and supporters related to the defense industry. It is able to go on thanks to the generous support of corporate and private donors including Wells Fargo, American Airlines, Costco Wholesale, and Visit Myrtle Beach. 

"Myrtle Beach, South Carolina has always been a strong supporter of our military and those who serve our country," said Brad Dean, President & CEO of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. "When we heard the National Memorial Day Parade was impacted by sequestration we knew we had to honor those who have sacrificed in service to our country, to simply say thank you."

While so many events honoring and featuring our military are being canceled, the National Memorial Day Parade is stepping up to fill this void, and the organizers – the American Veterans Center – are determined to make it better than ever, to demonstrate that Americans from across the country still fully appreciate the sacrifices made by our military men and women, and their families.

"This year's Parade will be a great event and reach millions of people through the TV broadcast and online participation through our Virtual Boots on the Ground, allowing folks to watch the parade online and participate virtually," said James C. Roberts, president of the American Veterans Center. "Without many of our partners from the defense industry who have had to cut back their support due to sequestration, we are relying more and more on the support of private companies and individuals from across the country. We still face a large gap, but with their support, the show will go on."

Held annually in Washington D.C., the National Memorial Day Parade has quickly become a tradition in which Americans of all ages and generations can share. It is an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of patriotic Americans to come together and honor those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country. The event honors all who have served in uniform, and died in service to our country, from the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom, and seeks to educate the public about the meaning of this hallowed day.

About the National Memorial Day Parade: The Parade will take place on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th Streets NW on Monday, May 27, 2013, at 2:00 P.M. and will be televised nationwide, and streamed LIVE online at www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com. It is presented by the American Veterans Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational foundation dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of our military personnel. The Parade is held annually in Washington, D.C., and is an opportunity for thousands of patriotic Americans to come together and honor those who have sacrificed so much in service to our country.

SOURCE American Veterans Center