By Timothy Frudd

The National Veterans Parade is expected to draw 50,000 people to the streets of Washington on Sunday as Americans honor veterans for service to their country ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11.

The parade, now in its fourth year, is the first national parade dedicated exclusively to honoring U.S. military veterans. It will take place at 12 p.m. on Nov. 8, with opening ceremonies starting at 11:30 a.m. at the National Archives.

Francis Ventura, executive director of the National Veterans Parade Foundation, told The Epoch Times that the parade has grown exponentially over the past few years. He described it as the “ultimate way of saying thank you for your service” to those who have served in the U.S. military.

“It’s easy to say thank you for your service to people,” Ventura said. “But we’re giving our spectators and those that want to support veterans the ideal platform to clap for them and to make a genuine effort to thank them for their service, and they do appreciate that when there’s a genuine effort.”

This year’s parade will include veterans from “every veteran era,” including World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Iraq War, and the Afghanistan War, according to Ventura. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard will all be represented.

About 160 units are expected to participate this year, Ventura said. The parade will feature 16 active-duty military ceremonial and performing units, nearly 30 veterans service organizations, between 25 and 30 marching bands, and multiple Reserve Officers’ Training Corps and Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps units, among others.

“We’re really focusing this year on the Junior ROTC groups because we want the youth to come out,” Ventura said. “There’s a lot of youth that don’t get the publicity of being good, young Americans, and they may be our future veterans. So we want them to see that if they go into the service, that there’s something for them to be recognized.”

In addition, the parade will feature historic military vehicles, floats, pageant winners, American flag carriers, and international veterans, with a special recognition for surviving World War II veterans.

Ventura said the event’s two main goals are to give people an opportunity to thank American veterans and to raise awareness for veteran service organizations.

“Our goal is to create a legacy parade because it always should be a parade for our veterans. And it’s not just a parade; it’s a recognition,” he said.

In addition to the parade, the foundation will have a free marching band field show featuring the visiting high school marching bands between the Washington Monument and the World War II Memorial on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This year, the foundation is also holding its first National Veterans Parade 5K Run. The 3.1-mile race will start Sunday at 8 a.m. at the National Archives and will follow the same route as the parade.

This Year’s Grand Marshal

Robert Kiyosaki, a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, financial educator, and co-author of “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” will be the parade’s grand marshal this year.

“We are honored to have Robert Kiyosaki lead this year’s parade and exemplify the continued impact of veterans beyond their service,” Ventura said in a statement earlier this year announcing Kiyosaki as the grand marshal.

Robert Kiyosaki, co-author of the bestselling personal finance book “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” in Phoenix on Nov. 18, 2020. Tal Atzmon/The Epoch Times

Asked about what it means to be chosen to lead this year’s parade, Kiyosaki told The Epoch Times, “This whole thing brings my whole life to a pinnacle … and I’m just honored to be representing the brave men and women who went before me. And we need more to go forward.”

Kiyosaki, who served in the Vietnam War, said he was exempted from the U.S. draft because he worked on oil tankers for Standard Oil at the time of the war. While he was not required to join the military and serve in Vietnam, Kiyosaki said he decided to volunteer for service in the Marine Corps after being compelled by his conscience.

After receiving military flight training, Kiyosaki was deployed to Vietnam as a helicopter gunship pilot. He said he “went down three times” in his helicopter while serving in Vietnam.

“I thought I was bulletproof.”

Kiyosaki said that serving in the Marine Corps was one of the best decisions of his life.

“I’m really glad I went. I learned. I grew up, and now I’m the grand marshal? You got to be kidding me,” he said.

Kiyosaki shared that he was fortunate to come back alive from the Vietnam War with his fellow service members.

“I took 16 men over to Vietnam, and I returned with my 16 men all alive,” he said. “A lot of people didn’t come back alive, or in pieces.”

The Marine veteran said he did not get a warm welcome back in the United States after returning from the war and was instead greeted at Norton Air Force Base in January 1972 by Americans opposed to the U.S. military’s involvement in the war.

“I got hit by rotten eggs and spit on by the hippies … and I said, ‘What’s happening?’ And the captain who was in charge of me, he turned to all the troops and said, ‘Gentlemen, this is what we fought for. We fought for the freedom for them to spit on us,’” Kiyosaki said.

Challenges Facing Veterans

Both Ventura and Kiyosaki said American veterans face significant challenges after serving their country.

Some of the challenges veterans face are connected.

Ventura said mental health is a major challenge for veterans, which can lead to suicide or post-traumatic stress disorder.

Veteran suicide, especially among young veterans who have fought in conflicts over the past two decades, is “the biggest issue,” he noted.

One of the solutions in helping veterans overcome mental health struggles is getting legislation approved to address the issue, Ventura said. In addition, he underscored the importance of prevention efforts and treatment both during and after military service.

“It’s the families that suffer, and that’s the biggest thing is supporting them and preventing it,” he said.

Kiyosaki said another issue facing American veterans is homelessness.