Reign on the Parade

My Italian grandfather had a saying...

America!

When you enjoyed the true qualities of this country.

America!

Spending the afternoon at the park with your kids.

America!

A great meal at a great restaurant.

America!

500 Channels on DirecTV.

Ameri...

Actually, he wasn’t around for DirecTV, but I’m sure he would’ve loved it.

My grandfather was a shoe repairman.   

His business kept him and my grandmother afloat for many years.

Well that and the sports gambling book he was running in the back of the store.

America!

It’s been a while since my grandfather passed.

In fact, I was still quite young when it happened so all I can really remember at this point are the hugs.

But to this day when something good happens, I still mutter his signature phrase under my breath.

As the song says, “This is My Country”... and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to travel the world and I truly LOVE what I’ve seen.

Quebec City is magnifique.   

Rome is fantastico.  

Cabo.  Wabo.

But like Lee Greenwood, I’m proud to be an American.

As you may have gathered from my last blog, my life is in a blender right now.

On full speed.

But we are not going there.

For now.

Where we are going is 5th Avenue.

The home of today’s Veterans Day Parade.

Let me tell you New Yorkers LOVE their parades.

If you don’t believe me, maybe you will believe this...

Jan  Three Kings Parade

Feb  Lunar New Year Parade

Mar  St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Apr  Sikh Cultural Society Parade

May  Greater NY Good Neighbor Parade

Jun  Children’s Evangelical Parade

Jul  Captive Nations Parade

Aug  Pakistan Independence Day Parade

Sep  West Indian American Day Carnival Parade

Oct  Korean Harvest Day Parade

Nov  Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

Dec  ... .... ...

Wow, no parades in December. 

Since I’ve been here, one week it was the Mexican Day Parade.... the next week it was the Muslim Day Parade... and the Puerto Rican Day Parade is epic.   

Just ask Kramer.

I asked an NYPD officer when the half-Italian, half-Jewish Parade was so I could walk in it.

He told me they could make that happen.

I’m sure they can.

The parade life is so exciting here, I almost rooted for the Yankees to win the World Series again.

Almost.

Taking nothing away from any of the other parades, there was something that felt extra special to me about today’s event.

I didn’t serve in the military and I only know a few people who did.

Or do.

But I have nothing but complete 100% respect for the brave people who have made that commitment.

And to their families, who wait every day for the phone to ring or not ring, I can’t imagine.

Seeing the pride in today’s parade was incredible.

Men and women, who wore the uniform 50 years ago, still believing in what they believed in 50 years ago.

I’ve been to the Rose Parade, several times, and let me tell you Mr. Quayle, this was no Rose Parade.

No giant floats.  No flowers.   No fuzzy animals.

This parade was about people.

Real people.

I was standing on the corner of 34th and 5th when I heard a song in the distance.

It was coming from the vehicle sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Manhattan Chapter 126.

The man was belting out, “God Shed His Grace on Thee”, like he was at Carnegie Hall.

Like his body had been invaded by Paul Anka.

It didn’t matter to him that only a couple of hundred people could hear his high note.

This was his high point.

And when he finished, with his heart pounding and his breath shortened, he huffed and puffed... “Thank You.”

“Thank You New York.”

I walked about ten blocks down the parade route and pretty much everywhere I went there were people watching.

And smiling.

I saw more waves than the Atlantic Ocean.

And I saw kids.  A lot of them.

It was very cool.

Cool to see the look in the kids’ eyes as they looked at heroes.

Real heroes.

Remember being young and seeing someone in uniform, thinking they were special.

Well, they are special.

Sure, old age has made me and you and most of us somewhat cynical.

Whether you believe in war or military or defense or whatever word you want to use, that’s for another blog.

Not mine.

But I saw so much pride out there today.

And that was very cool.

America!