NEW YORK: Celebrated Indian-origin NASA astronaut and retired United States Navy Captain Sunita ‘Suni’ Williams served as the Grand Marshal for the historic 107th New York City Veterans Day Parade, leading tens of thousands of veterans, active-duty service members, and marching bands down Manhattan’s iconic Fifth Avenue.
The annual parade, coordinated by the United War Veterans Council (UWVC), stands as the United States’ largest commemoration honoring military veterans. Addressing an assembly of veterans and dignitaries, Williams expressed profound humility and pride at being selected to marshal the procession.
“When I entered the military, I never imagined that I would one day stand here as a veteran. The foundation instilled during those formative years—courage, honor, and commitment—shaped every dimension of my journey, from naval flight decks to the International Space Station,” Williams told the gathering. “Exploration is embedded in our collective soul. Freedom requires vigilance and sacrifice, and our mission has always been to demonstrate global unity and discovery across our planet.”
Mark Otto, President and Executive Director of the United War Veterans Council and a former US Marine Corps veteran, hailed Williams’ extraordinary trajectory. “Her dedication, resilience, and service embody the foundational values we honor every Veterans Day. We are exceptionally proud to welcome Suni as Grand Marshal,” Otto said.
Inducted into NASA’s astronaut corps in 1998, Williams logged an astonishing 608 days in space across three long-duration space expeditions. With 62 hours and 6 minutes of spacewalking time across nine EVAs, she ranks fourth on NASA’s all-time historical leaderboard.
Most recently, Williams commanded global attention when she launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft on its inaugural crewed test flight to the International Space Station in June 2024. Following technical anomalies with Starliner thrusters and NASA’s decision to return the capsule uncrewed, Williams seamlessly extended her orbital mission aboard the ISS, spearheading critical scientific research before safely returning to Earth in March 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Crew-9 Dragon spacecraft.
Published by True Roots Media