How Philadelphia got its first Veterans' Parade

SHORTLY AFTER his appointment last year as director of the Veterans Advisory Commission, Scott C. Brown noticed something that was missing.

Philadelphia had no veterans parade.

As a Navy veteran, Brown found that puzzling - and disheartening. He did some research and found that despite the lip service we always pay vets, "there never was an official veterans parade in Philadelphia" - ever.

In his bones and in his job, Brown knew that was just wrong and nominated himself to raise the flag.

First to salute was U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, the political heavyweight with the magic touch when it comes to All Things Philadelphia. After the city ran out of cash for parades a few years back, Brady created the nonprofit Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund to help rescue the Mummers Parade. It did - and then expanded to finance all the parades. More of that in a moment.

When Brown told Brady that Philadelphia had never had a veterans parade, the congressman said: "Are you kidding me? No parade for veterans? Let's have one." That was Oct. 21, 2014. Brown wanted to do one the next month, "but then reality set in," he said, and he pushed it back a year.

For guidance, Brown met with organizers of the New York City veterans parade and "basically followed their advice to a T," he said. Brady contacted Media Mayor Bob McMahon, whose town has one of the largest parades in the area to make sure the parades did not conflict.

Media's will march on the actual Veterans Day, Nov. 11, while Philadelphia's will start at noon on Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Union League and march to Independence Hall. The reviewing stand will be on Market Street between 5th and 6th.

While the parade is marching from the Union League, there will be simultaneous activities at Independence Hall, starting with honoring three veterans, a motorcycle parade, Junior ROTC unveiling a 30 feet by 60 feet American flag, plus the Army's Golden Knights veterans jumping out of helicopters displaying American flags.

The parade will mark the first time - ever - the bands from West Point and Annapolis will play at the same event.

"I'm living the dream," Brown said about the job that allows him to work with and serve his fellow veterans. A lifelong South Philadelphian, Brown served in the Navy from 1997 until 2002, when he retired with a PTSD disability.

The parade is also a dream, with just a touch of nightmare. He has a board of some 40 volunteers, but the torrent of details pour through his office located in a City Hall archway. (One of those helping is David Oh, the only veteran on City Council.)

Unlike tornadoes, parades don't just happen. People and organizations have to be thought of, then invited. Everything from marching bands, Boy Scout troops, veterans organizations, politicians, regular military to even the vice president of the United States - who "may join us," said Brown. Now that Biden's not running, the chances are better, says I.

All of this would have been vapor without a promise of money, and Brady provided that.

Brady tells me the fund supports 13 local parades, and more. It helps the occasional street festival and Chester's Unity Day. It provided some help to a Little League team that needed help getting to Florida. "We try to keep it with parades," Brady said. "Once they hear you have a boatload of money, you have the world coming after you."

After he got on board, Brady asked Gerry Lenfest to be the parade grand marshal. The owner of the Daily News, Inquirer and Philly.com, Lenfest is the single largest donor to the Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund - and was a captain in the Navy. At one time, he commanded the destroyer escort USS Coates as it patrolled the East Coast and the Caribbean.

"I'm no great hero," Lenfest said.

As we close in on the celebration, Brown is reminded of something his grandmother liked to say: "Every day should be like a circus, every night a parade."

His parade - the Philadelphia Veterans Day parade - will take place during the day, long overdue and very welcome.

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