Boston hosted its annual Veterans Parade on Saturday, Nov. 3, to pay tribute to current and former military service members. The parade, scheduled on the first Saturday of November to celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11, and to inaugurate Veterans Month, drew more than 800 marchers this year—from active military members and veterans to representatives of local veterans’ organizations.
Starting at noon, marchers made their way from the Boston Public Library down Boylston Street to City Hall Plaza, with the beat of the marching band and fluttering American flags echoing along the mile-and-a-half route. A crowd lined along Tremont Street, waving American flags as the marchers passed by.
Upon the parade reaching City Hall Plaza, city officials, including Mayor Michelle Wu, Deputy Commissioner at the Mayor’s Office of Veterans’ Services Robert Santiago, and City Council President Ed Flynn, welcomed and applauded the marchers as their organizations were announced.
Members of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts march from the Boston Public Library to City Hall Plaza in the parade on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)
Danvers High School falcon band members perform at the beginning of the parade on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Yufei Meng/Beacon Staff)
Zello Dance Studios members perform to commence the parade on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Yufei Meng/Beacon Staff)
Parade-goers take selfies as the marching band passes by at the beginning of the parade on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)
A spectator videotapes the parade as marchers begin marching from the Boston Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)
Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster greets the crowd from the team’s official truck on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)
A child on a parade bus holds an American flag on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)
A child sitting on the shoulder of a marcher takes off his hat as the parade stops and waits to enter City Hall Plaza on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Ashyn Wang/Beacon Staff)
City officials and guests applaud the marchers as they enter City Hall Plaza on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Ashlyn Wang/Beacon Staff)
People smile as they watch Bill the Goat, the U.S. Naval Academy’s mascot, raise the flag at City Hall Plaza on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023. (Yufei Meng/Beacon Staff)
