Veterans Day Parade Set To Begin In South Beach

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The 11th annual Veterans Day parade kicks off at 11:11 a.m. in South Beach Monday followed by a ceremony and a spectacular landing by the high-flying all veterans parachute team.

Presented by the Miami International Auto Show, the Miami area's largest parade of the day will take over iconic Ocean Drive between Fifth to 13 streets. See also: Veterans Day 2019: What's Open And Closed In Miami-Dade

The red, white and blue brigade will then move into Lummus Park at noon for a family picnic, wreath laying ceremony as well as the parachute drop.

Veterans Day occurs on the 11th day of the 11th month, so the parade begins at the 11th minute of the 11th hour, which translates into 11:11 a.m.

Veterans from the World War II Army Air Corp played a major role in the development of Miami Beach.

"Miami Beach was the training grounds for air servicemen in 1940s," according to a Miami Beach city officials. "Many South Beach hotels were used as housing for the troops that would march and exercise on the beach, golf club and streets on regulation drills. The county causeway was renamed the MacArthur Causeway in honor of Gen. Douglas MacArthur. After the war, many of these veterans with 'sands in their shoes' made Miami Beach their permanent home."

The parade has grown over the years from about 50 people to more than 2,000, including students, organizations, businesses, military groups and public officials.

"Continuing the patriotic tradition, there will be veteran and military groups, school marching bands, and cars and pageant queens as the whole community comes out to pay homage to our brave troops," city officials said.

This year's program includes a Miami Beach police and fire honor guard presentation of the colors; a recital of the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem and a moment of silence in honor of our First World War Armistice Day tradition.

There will also be addresses by top-level military officials from Southern Command and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Other activities include MBPD Honor Guard’s 21-gun salute and performance by a Taps bugler.