Overview
- Philadelphia held its annual pre‑Veterans Day parade on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, followed by a festival at Eakins Oval with strong multigenerational turnout.
- Detroit marked the parade’s 20th year with a record 85 organizations registered to participate, launching festivities with a ceremony at IBEW Local 58 in Corktown despite snow and cold.
- Post‑parade festivals offered on‑site assistance including legal support for disability claims, with attorneys describing help for veterans navigating stalled or denied benefits.
- Organizers and officials highlighted reintegration support such as Helmets to Hard Hats, which reports helping nearly 50,000 veterans move into skilled‑trade careers since 2003.
- Detroit’s event was scaled back because of the federal government shutdown, which canceled a planned Selfridge Air Force Base flyover and U.S. Army band performances, as leaders urged continued access to care and benefits for veterans.