The Veterans Day Parade is an annual parade held on November 11, and it honors those who served our country in various wars. The New York City Veterans Day parade persevered through times of war and carried on through times of peace without interruption since 1919. From its humble beginnings, a year after the Armistice was signed that concluded World War I, the parade has grown into an event of national importance. The parade has become a revered tradition for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers, Armed Service members, their families and tourists. The parade is preceded by the traditional Opening Ceremony at the Eternal Light monument in Madison Square Park, which starts at 10am. This solemn ceremony features speeches from the Mayor of New York, other elected officials and special guests. The ceremony concludes with wreath laying and playing of "Taps". The parade itself starts around 11.30 am and marches along Fifth Avenue from 26th to 56th Streets. The entire route is about 1.5 miles and takes 30-40 minutes to walk. The parade features around 20,000 marchers, floats, and military and vintage vehicles. Included in the parade are representatives from each branch of the military, including the National Guard. There are also veterans from the Korean War, Vietnam, World War II, and the younger group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. ROTC and JROTC groups from area high schools proudly march in the parade as well, particularly since many of them see a military career in their future. The Veterans Day Parade always relies on invaluable help of volunteers who assist on the day of the parade as well as in planning and organizing of the event. Veteran and non-veteran volunteers serve in various capacities: office support, marketing efforts, parade marshals and parade marshal captains. Year 2009, marked the 90th Anniversary Veterans Day Parade. Some 750,000 viewers lined the streets of NYC to view it on that day.