October 12, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Philadelphia veteran will receive Vietnam service medals during an outside City Hall ceremony on Tuesday, October 13, at 11 a.m. to present an American Flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol to the Philadelphia Parade Committee.

Congressman Bob Brady will be presenting Serafin Natal, of north Philadelphia, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and a Naval Unit Citation for his Vietnam service.  The awards were obtained after Natal, who served in the Navy contacted Brady’s office asking for assistance.

The ceremony will be hosted by Council President Darrell Clarke, who has joined Brady as one of the driving forces behind the first-ever veterans parade to be held on Nov 8 at noon in Center City.  A flag flown over the Capitol and provided by the congressman will be given to the Veterans Advisory Commission, which is organizing the event funded by The Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund. American Legion-Latin American Post 840 of Frankford will accept the flag on behalf of the committee and post the colors at the Plaza near City Hall.

“How appropriate to recognize the service of a veteran who is finally getting the honor he richly deserve during an event highlighting the first city-wide veterans parade,” Brady noted.
“This is just one more way we can demonstrate how we value our veterans,” said Clarke who added that, “we’re committed to making the parade something these veterans and all Philadelphians can be proud of.”

This year’s Parade, which starts at S. Broad and Walnut streets and ends at Independence Mall, will focus on veterans of all eras from the tri-state region (PA/NJ/DE). It will also commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the end of World War II, the 50th Anniversary of Vietnam and the 25th Anniversary of Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

The parade will include military units, civic and youth groups (including Junior ROTC), businesses and high school marching bands. A special feature of the parade in anticipation of the Army/Navy Game on Dec. 12 will be representation from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the U.S. Naval Academy. For more information see www.phillyveteransparade.org.

Scott Brown, executive director of the Veterans Advisory Commission noted that the commission has formed a committee of more than 50 veterans’ representatives, including those from the public and private sector, to form the parade.  “Interest is rapidly building for this event and we have nearly 100 groups participating,” said Brown.

The one-mile parade starts at noon at S. Broad and Walnut streets and participants will  travel north on Broad around City Hall, east on Market Street before ending at Independence Mall.  The parade also has the support of H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, noted philanthropist and owner of the Philadelphia Inquirer, who Brady contacted immediately after the commission brought him the concept. Lenfest, who served on Navy destroyers during the Korean War, already is a patron of the Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund,  which supports 13 other parades and festivals in the city, including the Mummer’s Parade.