Major General Chuck Yeager to Serve as Grand Marshal of National Memorial Day Parade

2012 PARADE TO HONOR U.S. AIR FORCE

WASHINGTON, May 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Veterans Center's National Memorial Day Parade presented by Boeing will include a special tribute to the United States Air Force, it was announced today.  The parade will honor the 65-year history of the U.S. Air Force.  Retired Air Force pilot Major General Chuck Yeager, the first person to break the sound barrier, will serve as Parade Grand Marshal.  

"What I am, I owe to the Air Force," said Major General Chuck Yeager, Honorary Grand Marshal for the 2012 National Memorial Day Parade. "I entered the Air Force as an 18 year old kid before the war.  The Air Force trained me to be a mechanic and a pilot, and let me serve and fight for my country in three wars."

The Parade will take place Monday, May 28 at 2:00 PM on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 17th streets, NW.  Now in its 8th year, the parade will feature a special performance from Air Force Tech. Sgt. Angie Johnson, who is a member of the United States Air Force Band as well as a contestant on the popular NBC television program "The Voice." The Parade will also honor the World War II Marshals and the Tuskegee Airmen as well as Korean War Marshals including: Col Glen Carus, USAF, Lt Gen Don Hughes, USAF, Lt Gen Charles Cleveland, USAF, Maj Gen Frederick Blesse, USAF, Lt Gen Ronald T. Allen, USAF, Vietnam War Marshal Ace Steve Ritchie and Captain Barry Crawford, recipient of the Air Force Cross.

One hundred Airmen from Fort Meade, MD and the Pentagon will be part of the Parade's finale. This line-up continues the American Veterans Center's tradition of honoring all generations of brave service men and women.

"For 65 years, the men and women of the U.S. Air Force have proudly served our nation around the world.  We are honored to salute the service and sacrifice of the U.S. Air Force and its proud history in the 2012 National Memorial Day Parade," said James C. Roberts, president of the American Veterans Center, which founded and organizes the parade. 

"With nearly 30,000 military veterans working at Boeing – and thousands more with family members who have served or are serving -- we have a deep understanding of the sacrifices our military men and women make for our nation, including the ultimate sacrifice that we honor on Memorial Day," said Dan Beck, director of International Business Development and Strategy Communications for Boeing Defense, Space & Security.  "Every day our employees rededicate themselves to flawlessly producing products that enable airmen, soldiers, sailors and Marines to carry out their missions and return home safely.  It's a deep honor for Boeing to support this parade as we take this day to remember those who did not come home after serving our country with valor and honor to protect our freedoms."The 2012 National Memorial Day Parade will be televised nationwide, and streamed LIVE online at www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com; visit the parade's website for television listings.  The parade is founded organized by the American Veterans Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and presented by Boeing.

About Boeing Defense, Space & Security

A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is one of the world's largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world's largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft. Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $32 billion business with 61,000 employees worldwide. Follow us on Twitter: @BoeingDefense.

SOURCE American Veterans Center