Medal of Honor Recipient Dakota Meyer Joins Oldest Medal Winner in NYC Veterans Day Parade

NEW YORK – October 21, 2011 – U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Dakota Meyer, the nation’s most recent Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, will march alongside the oldest living Medal of Honor winner, Nicholas Oresko, in this year’s New York City’s Veterans Day Parade, the largest in the nation, parade organizers announced today. They join four Vietnam veteran Medal of Honor recipients—Paul W. Bucha, Bruce P. Crandall, Alfred Rascon and Brian Thacker.

“It is fitting that someone from the Greatest Generation meets someone from the Latest Generation and I am honored to meet Dakota Meyer,” said Oresko, 94, of Teaneck, NJ.  “While we have a 70-year age difference, like all the veterans there is no difference in our service to the nation.”

“Dakota Meyer, Nicolas Oresko, Paul Bucha, Bruce Crandall, Alfred Rascon and Brian Thacker will march with thousands of heroes on Veterans Day, November 11, when we honor the brave men and women from every generation who answered our country’s call to service,” said Vincent McGowan, president of the United War Veterans Council, which presents the parade.  “It is also a time when we renew our commitment to find meaningful jobs for these dedicated men and women, because it’s the right thing to do – and the smart thing to do.”

Dakota Meyer received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Ganigal on September 8, 2009, part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kunar province, Afghanistan. Nicholas Oresko earned his Medal of Honor for his heroic role as a platoon leader with the 302nd Infantry in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

Paul W. Bucha received the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions in a battle near Phuoc Vinh during the Vietnam War.  Bruce P. Crandall received his Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the Battle of Ia Drang in Vietnam, where he flew 22 missions in an unarmed helicopter into enemy fire to bring ammunition and evacuate the wounded. Alfred Rascon received his Medal of Honor for his selfless actions near Long Khanh Province during the Vietnam War, as an Army medic born in Mexico, who used his own body as a shield to soldiers critically injured. Brian Thacker received the Medal of Honor for his actions against the North Vietnamese in Kontum Province, Vietnam.

The annual Veterans Day Parade begins November 11 at 10 a.m. with a memorial ceremony including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and other dignitaries in Madison Square Park at 23rd Street and Fifth Avenue.  The parade steps off at 11:11 a.m. and proceeds north on Fifth Avenue to 56th Street.  Chase Bank is the principal sponsor of the parade.  Frank Bisignano, JPMorgan Chase Chief Administrative Officer and CEO of Chase Mortgage Banking, is serving as co-chairman and lead Grand Marshal of this year’s parade and Chase will have 200 employees marching in the parade, mainly veterans and their families.

More than 20,000 people, including 27 active military units from all branches, veterans groups and high school bands from around the nation march in the parade.

Military dignitaries in the parade include:

• Medal of Honor recipients Dakota Meyer, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army World War II veteran Nicholas Oresko and
• U.S. Army Vietnam veterans Paul W. Bucha, Bruce P. Crandall, Alfred Rascon and Brian Thacker
• Gen. David H. Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret), Director, Central Intelligence Agency
• Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, Chief of Naval Operations
• Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Chief of Staff of the Army
• Lt. Gen. George J. Flynn, U.S. Marine Corps, Director, J-7, Joint Staff
• Lt. Gen. Richard Y. Newton III, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force
• Lt. General John F. Mulholland Jr. Commanding General of Special Operations

Command.

FOX 5 will provide live parade coverage from noon to 3 p.m. and the parade will be broadcast on Armed Forces Television to U.S. military installations around the world.