By Patrick Hedlund and Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Staff
MANHATTAN — Hundreds of veterans, who fought in wars including Vietnam, Korea, and even World War II, joined CIA Director General David Petraeus at Gracie mansion Friday morning to kick off the city's annual commemoration of Veterans Day.
The day's events included numerous tributes across Manhattan as well as the annual Veterans Day Parade through Midtown, which drew thousands, including special guests like actor Cuba Gooding Jr. and General David Petraeus, the former head of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and current CIA director.
"Veterans Day is a day when we come together to recognize the men and women who have sacrificed so much to defend our freedoms," said Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who stood alongside decorated servicemen and women, including Rep. Charles Rangel, who received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service in Korea.
Also in attendance were the family members of several "fallen heroes" killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I just want them to know that this city will never forget their service and sacrifice," he said.
General Petraeus described the men and women fighting today as “America’s New Greatest Generation.”
“We can never do all that we should for them, but we can sure as hell try," he said.
To mark the occasion, the mayor and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced a new initiative that will waive civil service exams fees for all returning veterans.
While most of the tests cost less than $50, the waiver is meant "as a symbol to veterans to say that we care," said Quinn, who was joined by her father, Larry, who fought in World War II.
Actor Tom Selleck, who served in the California National Guard and was also at the breakfast, told DNAinfo that it was an honor to join so many of his fellow servicemen and women.
"It's worth it. It's a good day to be a veteran," he said.
Mort Gerard, 80, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1947 to 1955, said the day is especially meaningful in a city where few people think about the military's sacrifices day-to-day.
"In today's day and age, when there isn't as much outpouring, at least it shows that some of the public is still interested in the 1 percent: the 1 percent that volunteered," said Gerard, who now lives blocks from Gracie Mansion on the Upper East Side.
The annual parade, the country’s largest and oldest, processed up Fifth Avenue from 26th to 56th streets.
Thousands of people lined Fifth Avenue waving American flags and cheering.
George Prontkow, 80, served in the army for 25 years and has been in 40 parades, but he decided this year to walk the entire parade route for the first time.
"I just wanted to talk along the line and thank the people for being here," said Prontkow, who was using a walker to help him along the route.
Lydia Santiago, 53, was at the parade to cheer on two family members who were marching. Her son-in-law is with the National Guard and her husband a retired Marine.
"They are marching and we are very proud and we are here to cheer them on," she said, while waving an American flag from the sidewalk as soldiers passed by.
"My son-in-law has been to Afganistan twice, I believe," said Santiago."We held our breath until he came home."
The city’s alternate-side parking rules were suspended Friday for the holiday, though drivers still had to feed parking meters, according to the Department of Transportation.
The parade kicked off at Madison Square Park’s Eternal Light Monument at 10 a.m., with musical performances, a wreath-laying ceremony, 21-rifle salute and the playing of “Taps.”
In addition to commemorating 9/11’s 10th anniversary, the parade also marks the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the 50th anniversary of the start of the Vietnam War, and the 100th anniversary of Naval aviation, according to the United War Veterans Council.
Gooding Jr., an Oscar winner, star of the forthcoming film “Red Tails” about the Tuskegee Airmen, rode on a float with veterans of the African American pilot unit that fought in World War II, the Council noted.
West Harlem's Dabney Montgomery, 88, who was one of the Tuskegee Airmen, and also served as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s bodyguard as he marched from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, described the outpouring of support as "tremendous."
"The people do appreciate what you have done. And when people appreciate what you have done. it makes you feel good," he said following the breakfast, proudly wearing a Congressional Medal of Honor around his neck.
The breakfast also welcomed men and women who are currently in service.
Amanda Casconi, 26, a First Lieutenant in the Air Force, who is based on Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, was just 22 when she was commissioned into the military.
After growing up in rural Louisiana, five miles from the closest gas station, she said it was a special honor to be able to serve in New York.
"It feels very proud being able to do something for your country. And I get to see the world,"
she said.
Other participants in the day's events include Medal of Honor recipients Dakota Meyer of the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Army veterans Paul W. Bucha and Bruce P. Crandall.
Tens of thousands of marchers, including 27 active units from all branches of the military, veterans groups and marching bands from around the country, also walked the parade route Friday.
Additional reporting by Serena Solomon and Ben Fractenberg.