Martin Luther King, Jr. changed the world with his uncompromising vision of equality, justice, and peace. To celebrate his life and legacy, people from all over NYC come to enjoy the annual parade. It is usually held on the third Monday of every January. The parade begins at noon from 61st Street and continues north along Fifth Avenue to 86th Street. There are a variety of marchers, floats and marching bands that contribute to the celebration. Following the parade, there are many events planned throughout NYC paying tribute to this iconic activist. The parade originally began in Harlem in 1959 to honor African-Americans who fell in the battlefields of various wars, particularly those who fought in the 369th Regiment, the first American Regiment to reach the Rhine in 1918 during World War I. The parade was moved to Fifth Avenue in 1964 and dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr. after his assassination in 1968. Some 25,000 people participate in the parade in NYC each year.