Pittsburgh Honors Veterans with 105th Annual Veterans Day Parade
For the 105th consecutive year, Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania veterans gathered on Liberty Avenue to celebrate Veterans Day with a grand parade on Monday. The city’s tradition of honoring those who served was marked by an impressive display of patriotism, with veterans, advocacy groups, and marching bands filling the streets.
“It’s amazing. I’m overwhelmed. I got goosebumps from the minute this parade started,” shared Candy Klee, a local attendee.
This year’s parade featured 121 units, including a mix of veterans, advocacy organizations, and bands, as servicemen and women of all ages—representing branches like the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines—marched in unison to honor the day.
“This is the greatest thing ever,” Klee added.
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One of the parade’s highlights was the presence of grand marshal John DeFilippo, a 94-year-old Korean War veteran and Purple Heart recipient from Canonsburg. Just as he stood for his country in 1951, John proudly reviewed each passing unit, embodying the spirit of service.
“He is in his glory. The flyover, the weekend with the dinner at the LeMont,” said John’s son, Gary DeFilippo, about the special recognition his father received.
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With patriotic signs and flags lining the route, the parade underscored Pittsburgh’s dedication to its veterans. Known as one of the largest and longest-running Veterans Day parades in the nation, Pittsburgh’s event has continued uninterrupted since 1919—a fitting tribute for a region where 6.4% of the population has served in the U.S. military.
