Plot Synopsis

Each year since 2005, the American Veterans Center in Washington, D.C., has hosted the NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE, which honors and celebrates all those who have served in uniform from the American Revolution to Operation Iraqi Freedom. In only its second year, the parade drew over 250,000 spectators, filling a need in the nation's capital, which had been without a Memorial Day parade for nearly 70 years. The parade includes nearly 200 elements, including marching bands, active duty and retired military units, youth groups, and parade floats -- as well as hundreds of veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Since 2008, the Parade has been televised and broadcast live to American service men and women stationed around the globe.
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The 2017 NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY PARADE was broadcast live on Monday, May 29, 2017 from 2-4pm ET / 11am-1pm PT by local stations nationwide (including News Channel 8 in Washington DC), around the world on the American Forces Network, and on YouTube and Military.com, with hosts Jonathan Elias, Rita Cosby and Kirsten Haglund. Grand Marshals include Ken Burns and Lynn Novick, who appear with celebrity guest Joe Mantegna, Robert Irvine and Miss American 2017 Savvy Shields. Plus, the parade features musical performances by Daughtry, John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting, Tom Dixon, and the USO Show Troupe.