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2012 National Memorial Day Parade to Honor Sacrifice of the Iraq War Generation

The American Veterans Center is proud to take the lead in bringing major tribute to Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 2012 National Memorial Day Parade, our nation's largest Memorial Day parade, will feature a special tribute recognizing the sacrifices made by those who have served in the war in Iraq, and welcoming home those who have served. The parade will mark the first major public event in Washington paying tribute to the Iraq war generation since the conclusion of operations in December 2011.

"Since the end of the war, there has been a great outpouring of support for a parade honoring the men and women who have served and sacrificed in Iraq," stated American Veterans Center president Jim Roberts. "While a large-scale ticker-tape parade for Iraq war veterans is unlikely anytime soon, as troops are still deployed to Afghanistan, the valor and sacrifice of the Iraq war generation cannot and should not be ignored. The National Memorial Day Parade will serve as a dignified tribute to those who sacrificed in Iraq, and a place for the public to gather to demonstrate their gratitude."

The American Veterans Center inaugurated the parade in 2005, following a period of nearly 70 years in which Washington, DC was without a parade on our armed forces' most sacred day. It has since grown into the largest Memorial Day parade in the nation, drawing hundreds of thousands of spectators and a national television audience.

The National Memorial Day Parade is designed as a moving timeline of American military history, with re-enactment groups portraying soldiers from the American Revolution and Civil War, all the way to World War I, followed by veterans of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, and Afghanistan, all representing their fallen comrades. The tribute to Iraq war veterans will serve as the parade's grand finale.

The parade is intended to call attention to the true meaning of the holiday, and to serve as an educational yet fun event for families to gather and thank those who have sacrificed while serving our nation.

The 2012 National Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 28 along Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC. To learn more about the parade, visit www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com.

About the American Veterans Center

The mission of the American Veterans Center is to preserve and promote the legacy of America's servicemen and women from World War II through today's military. The Center works with veterans to record their personal experiences through documentary and speaker programs, its magazine American Valor Quarterly, and events such as the National Memorial Day Parade.

SOURCE American Veterans Center