The United War Veterans Council sadly marks the passing of Ed Koch, a New York City icon, a member of the Greatest Generation, and a longtime supporter of our nation’s veterans.
UPDATE: UWVC/Veterans Day Parade mentioned in Crain’s Insider tribute to Mayor Koch.
Mr. Koch served as a Grand Marshal of the 2012 NYC Veterans Day Parade (see above video), in recognition of his military service and his lifetime of service to his fellow citizens.
A veteran of World War II, Edward I. Koch served as the Mayor of the City of New York from 1978-1989. Prior to being Mayor, Koch served for nine years in Congress and two years as a member of the New York City Council. As mayor, Koch was instrumental in the construction of the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial at 55 Water Street, and led the first major Welcome Home parade for Vietnam Veterans in 1985.
Koch was at the City College of New York when he was drafted into the Army in 1943. He served with the 104th Infantry Division in the European Theater of Operations, receiving two battle stars and the Combat Infantry badge, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1946.
Koch received his law degree from the New York University School of Law. in 1948 and began to practice law immediately thereafter. He is currently a partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP. He hosts a Friday evening call-in radio program on Bloomberg AM 1130 (WBBR) and is also a commentator on that same station. Mr. Koch appears weekly on NY1 television with former Senator Alfonse D’Amato. He lectures around the country and writes a weekly com- mentary and weekly movie reviews.
In 2010, Mr. Koch founded New York Uprising, a non-partisan, independent coalition that advocates for meaningful government reform across New York State.
Koch also wrote written several autobiographical books, including: Mayor; Politics; His Eminence and Hizzoner; All the Best: Letters from a Feisty Mayor; Citizen Koch; Ed Koch on Everything; Giuliani: Nasty Man; I’m Not Done Yet: Remaining Relevant; Buzz: How to Create It and Win with It; and The Koch Papers: My Fight Against Anti-Semitism.
The UWVC salutes this lifelong patriot and public servant, and extends our condolences to his family and loved ones.