'The best day of the year'

Brooklyn resident Darryl Taylor admits he doesn’t like coming into Manhattan very often. But one day the U.S. Marine Corps veteran doesn’t mind braving the traffic and throngs of people is Veterans Day.

Taylor, a member of American Legion Post 1822, was at this year’s “America’s Parade: New York City” to support Legion family members marching in the parade. Standing along 5th Avenue, Taylor said the nation’s largest Veterans Day parade is very special to him.

“Veterans Day, to me, in the city is the best day of the year,” said Taylor, who served in the U.S. Marines from 1980-1988. “The people, the stories, the camaraderie – everything is great. I really love Veterans Day. Actually it’s the only day I like to come to the city.”

Taylor started coming to the Veterans Day parade a few years ago. “I started coming because my father died like two days before Veterans Day,” he said. “He was a World War II veteran, so in honor of him I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to go to the parade.’ And we came to the parade and had a great time, and we’ve been coming ever since.”

Nearly 500,000 spectators lined the streets to view the 97th annual New York City parade, which featured approximately 38,000 participants representing every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, first responders and veterans service organizations. The United States Coast Guard was the featured military branch, while three 9/11 first responders/post-9/11 veterans – U.S. Army veteran Joe Dugga, U.S. Army veteran Stephanie Dawson and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Nelson Vergara – served as grand marshals.

The parade commemorated the 15th anniversary of 9/11, with special recognition of Afghanistan, Iraq and other post-9/11 veterans, as well as first responders, and also marked the 25th anniversary of Desert Storm.

John Sabatino, a member of William Leonard Post 422 in Queens and a retired U.S. Army Special Forces major, rode on The American Legion float. He’s marched in the parade several years.

“It’s the camaraderie and esprit de corps,” Sabatino said. “It’s seeing friends that you see every year, and it’s reunion. It’s a time to celebrate all the fallen comrades that we lost, and the men and women that still serve today. We thank God for their service every day.”

Seeing another strong turnout of supporters along 5th Avenue “means a great deal,” Sabatino said. “It makes me feel that my service is appreciated, and that all of the men and women out here today also are appreciated.”

Standing next to Sabatino on the float was U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Pierre Landet, who also is a member of 9/11 Memorial Post 2001 in Manhattan. Landet, a 2015 New York Boys State participant, said while he appreciated the support shown by parade viewers, it also felt a bit strange.

“For me, at least right now, it’s still a little awkward,” he said. “People are coming up and thanking me, and I’ve only gone through boot camp. But it’s nice to watch the support for everyone else. It’s good to see there’s still support out there, no matter what.”

Landet was escorting Tony Mero, a 40-year member of Post 1212 in Manhattan. Mero said he was proud of Landet for joining the Legion. “He’ll do good (in the Legion),” Mero said. “He’ll do very well.”

Brooklyn American Legion Post 1636 Legion Rider Pete De Angelis, the Sons of The American Legion Detachment of New York’s Districts 2 and 10 commander, rode in the parade with his wife for what he said was probably at least the 12th time.

“It gives me goosebumps,” De Angelis said of seeing the crowds lining 5th Avenue. “It’s unbelievable seeing all those people out there supporting veterans. And that’s really what our organization is all about. Seeing the public out there doing the same thing brings so much joy to me.”