Producers of 2026 New York City Veterans Day Parade
107th Annual NYC Veterans Day Parade • Wednesday, November 11
The United War Veterans Council (UWVC) announced that Vicki Bello, U.S. Navy veteran and Manager of Community and Veterans Programs for the Theatre Development Fund (TDF), will serve as the honorary marshal for the New York City Veterans Day Parade, the nation's largest commemoration of service, on Wednesday, November 11. As honorary marshal, Vicki brings deep ties to New York City as a longtime resident. She will serve in support of the Grand Marshal, U.S. Navy veteran Sunita “Suni” L. Williams, as the parade marches up Fifth Avenue this Veterans Day.
As Manager of Community and Veterans Programs for the Theatre Development Fund, Bello partners with veterans' organizations throughout New York City to help veterans experience the arts.
The parade, produced each year by the UWVC, features participants from every service branch of the military and includes thousands of veterans, military members, service organizations, and youth cadets, as well as marching bands, floats, motorcycles, and vintage vehicles. The parade was first held in 1919 to commemorate the armistice that had ended World War I, one year earlier – at exactly the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month.
“My military service instilled in me a lifelong commitment to serving others, and I am fortunate to live out that commitment everyday through my work at the Theatre Development Fund, where I help connect fellow veterans with the theater. It is an incredible honor to be named an Honorary Marshal of the New York City Veterans Day Parade, and I look forward to marching alongside the men and women who have served our country as we celebrate their service, sacrifice, and contributions to our communities.”
Vicki Bello, Honorary Marshal for the New York City Veterans Day Parade and a U.S. Navy veteran
“Vicki embodies the spirit of service that the New York City Veterans Day Parade celebrates. Her commitment to our nation didn't end with her military service. Through her work at the Theatre Development Fund, she continues to make a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans, helping them experience the power of theater and the arts. We are proud to recognize her as an Honorary Marshal and celebrate her ongoing dedication to strengthening New York's veteran community and giving back.”
Mark Otto, President and Executive Director of the United War Veterans Council and U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Vicki Bello has a long history of advocacy and service within the New York veteran community. A native New Yorker, she enlisted in the United States Navy in 1985, serving on active duty as a Radioman at various commands, including Adak, Alaska, and Ford Island, Hawaii. After completing her active-duty service in 1989, she continued serving in the Naval Reserve at Fort Schuyler in the Bronx for an additional two years before receiving an honorable discharge.
She currently works as the Veterans and Community Programs Manager at the TDF. Through TDF's Veterans Theatregoers Program, she partners with veterans' organizations throughout New York City to provide complimentary tickets to Broadway shows, helping veterans access and experience the arts.
Vicki has also served on the City University of New York (CUNY) Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence (BAVR) Advisory Committee, and as Vice Chair of the Bronx Borough President's Veterans Advisory Council. In 2025, Vicki was inducted into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame by State Senator Nathalia Fernandez.
Vicki and her husband, Joe, who is also a Navy veteran and advocate, have four daughters and reside in the Bronx.
