Sunita Williams honoured as Grand Marshal of New York Veterans Day Parade
New York: Indian-American astronaut and retired U.S. Navy captain Sunita Williams served as Grand Marshal of New York City’s 107th annual Veterans Day Parade, leading an estimated 20,000 participants along Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue on Wednesday.
Calling the role “an incredible honour,” Williams said her Navy career shaped her character and prepared her for the challenges that followed. “I’m proud to join New Yorkers and Americans from around the country in honouring the service, sacrifice, and commitment of veterans from every generation,” she said.
Before joining NASA, Williams worked as a test pilot. She has flown on three space missions, spending a total of 608 days in space, and holds the record for the most spacewalks by a woman—nine, totalling 62 hours.
The parade featured thousands of veterans along with contingents from the armed services, law enforcement, community organisations, schools, and marching bands. Several companies also presented floats highlighting former military personnel now working in civilian roles.
Williams drew global attention after an eight-day mission to the International Space Station aboard the first crewed Boeing Starliner flight in 2024 extended into a nine-month stay because of technical issues with the spacecraft. She and fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore eventually returned to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew-9 mission.
Williams is the daughter of Deepak Pandya, a neuroanatomist, and Ursuline Pandya, who is from Slovenia. She carried a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to the ISS in 2006 and the Upanishads in 2012, reflecting her connection to Indian spiritual traditions.
On the eve of the parade, she also took part in events marking the 251st anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps aboard the USS San Antonio.
(Inputs from IANS)