NYC Veterans Day Parade 2019 Guide: Trump, Route, Streets Closed

NEW YORK, NY — More than 30,000 people will march up Fifth Avenue on Monday, Nov. 11 to honor veterans of the United States military in New York City's annual Veterans Day Parade.

Veterans, active military units, ROTC groups and high school marching bands from around the United States are expected to march in Monday's parade, and hundreds of thousands of people are expected to show up to spectate, according to the United Veterans War Council — the group that organizes the annual parade.

This year's parade will celebrate the centennial of Veterans Day as a United States holiday, according to organizers.

"At 11:00 AM on November 11, 1918, the guns of World War I fell silent as the Armistice ending the fighting took hold. One year later, in 1919, communities around the world marked the first anniversary of the Armistice with reflective and commemorative events,"

After World War II, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day to honor veterans who served in all of the United States' wars. The featured military branch for this year's parade will be the United States Marine Corps.

President Donald Trump is planning to attend this year's parade. The sitting president has always been invited to the parade but Trump is the first commander-in-chief known to personally accept the offer, according to the United War Veterans Council, which puts on the event. Trump is expected to offer a tribute for veterans during the parade's opening ceremony.

Whether you're planning on attending the parade or planning around it, here's everything you need to know:

Start time:

Monday's events begin with a traditional opening ceremony that will kick off at 11 a.m. near Madison Square Park on 24th Street and Fifth Avenue. The ceremony ends with a wreath laying at the Eternal Light Monument at 12 p.m.

The parade itself should begin about 15 minutes after the ceremony.

Parade route:

The parade begins near Madison Square Park and heads up Fifth Avenue. Marchers will begin their walk at West 26th Street and will head north to West 46th Street. The route is just over 1 mile long and takes about 30 minutes to complete.

How to get there:

Those interested in watching the parade in person should take public transportation in order to avoid street closures. The R, W and 6 lines all stop at 23rd street near Madison Square Park. The Bryant Park (B/D/F/N) and Grand Central Terminal (Metro-North, 4, 5, 6, 7 and Times Square Shuttle) stations are also situated near the end of the parade route.

Street closures:

As with any large parade in New York City, security will be tight on Monday. The NYPD will be shutting down numerous streets on the parade route and near the parade's start and end points.

Patch will update this article with a full list of street closures when the NYPD releases them.