The 20th consecutive year of U-Haul participation in the New York City Veterans Day Parade produced the Company’s largest turnout yet.
Nearly 250 U-Haul Team Members, family members and friends walked the street of the Big Apple on Nov. 11, 2024, to honor our nation’s heroes, saying “thank you” one block, one flag, and one step at a time.
The nation’s largest Veterans Day parade, which is hosted by the United War Veterans Council, started off with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Eternal Light Flagstaff in Madison Square Park. The flagstaff was first lit in 1923 for an Armistice Day celebration. With a few exceptions, it has been alight ever since.
Iconic 5th Avenue filled with spectators who, bundled in their coats and scarves while holding signs of gratitude, awaited the 105th year of the NYC event. U-Haul Team Members gathered at the designated staging area on 28th Street and 6th Avenue as nearby marching bands warmed up their instruments.
As the sun rose, patriotism filled the air. Several 10-foot U-Haul trucks donning the Company’s beloved U.S. Armed Forces Commemorative SuperGraphics slowly rolled through the parade route. Team Members marched alongside the vehicles and greeted onlookers while handing out small American flags.
The parade included active-duty military members; veteran service organizations; companies that support veteran causes; first responder unit members; community organizations; and even young ROTC cadets, all wishing to pay their respects to those who have sacrificed for our freedoms. If any city knows how to honor its heroes, it’s NYC — a metropolis that builds skyscrapers and stories on the shoulders of its brave.
Unforgettable Moments
Will Wolff III, U-Haul Co. of Brooklyn Queens Staten Island president, has participated in this event for many years. Wolff is the grandson of two veterans who served in the Navy and World War II.
“This is a very special event,” Wolff said. “It’s full of positive energy and excitement. My team and I love participating in the parade because it is a meaningful way to pay tribute, and it is also nice to have bonding time as a team while doing so.”
U-Haul was founded in 1945 by WWII Navy veteran L.S. Shoen and his wife, Anna Mary Carty Shoen. Many of the Company’s first Team Members, local dealers, and customers were veterans returning from the war, seeking to create a better future through the accessible and affordable residential mobility that U-Haul provided.
Today, U-Haul remains dedicated to recruiting veterans, who receive preference in the hiring process. The Company also allocates a significant portion of its community service funds to honoring veterans and supporting veteran organizations. In addition to 20 years of participation in the New York City Veterans Day Parade, U-Haul proudly sponsors numerous other Veterans Day parades and the National Memorial Day Parade in Washington, D.C.
