Exit12 Performs We Are America at the 2025 New York City Veterans Day Parade
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/live/mQ8Z8t7QalQ?si=nw6BCeQkJjdXbni8&t=4641
On a bitterly cold Veterans Day, Exit12 Dance Company made history as the first dance company ever to perform at the 106th Annual New York City Veterans Day Parade, the largest Veterans Day event in the United States. Performing We Are America before thousands lining Fifth Avenue, Exit12 brought movement, meaning, and emotional resonance to a national moment of remembrance and reflection during a year that commemorated the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and Navy.
Event Context
Produced by the United War Veterans Council, the parade began with the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Eternal Light Flagstaff in Madison Square Park at 11:00 a.m., followed by the parade kickoff at 12:30 p.m. The procession traveled north along Fifth Avenue from 26th Street to 47th Street, with more than 20,000 marchers, 300 units, 150 vehicles, and dozens of floats representing active duty service members, veterans, ROTC programs, and military families. The 2025 grand marshals represented each of the senior service branches and included Medal of Honor recipient Clinton Romesha, veteran advocate Stephen Peck, and NASA astronaut Sunita Williams.
Exit12’s Performance
Amid this historic celebration, Exit12 performed We Are America, a work that centers embodied storytelling from military and civilian perspectives. The song We Are America, written by CreatiVets songwriters Johnny and Heidi, calls for a renewed sense of national strength and community reminiscent of the unity felt after the attacks on the World Trade Center on 9/11. Despite freezing temperatures, the dancers delivered a stirring performance that brought contemporary dance into a space traditionally dominated by military formations, bands, and ceremonial processions. Their presence disrupted expectations and offered a profound artistic counterpoint to the day’s patriotic ceremonies.
The work’s themes, including resilience, identity, and the multiplicity of American experience, resonated strongly with both the parade audience and the millions watching on WABC-TV and digital platforms. By placing vulnerability and expression alongside discipline and tradition, the performance invited viewers to consider the emotional and human dimensions of service.
Community and Public Impact
Visibility on a national stage: Exit12’s appearance positioned veteran and military community arts as a central part of the national Veterans Day narrative.
Audience engagement: Thousands witnessed the performance in person along the parade route, with additional audiences reached through the televised broadcast.
Representation: As an arts organization founded by a Marine Corps veteran, Exit12’s participation elevated the voices of veterans who heal, connect, and lead through creativity.
Cultural contribution: The performance highlighted the power of the arts to broaden conversations around service, healing, and belonging.
Significance
Performing We Are America at this historic parade reinforced Exit12’s commitment to transforming the way society views veterans, not only through stories of war, but through stories of humanity, creativity, and community. In a year that honored 250 years of U.S. military service, Exit12 offered a moving reminder that the legacy of that service lives not only in ceremonies and uniforms, but in the personal narratives carried by those who served and those who welcome them home.
Exit12’s presence at the parade deepened their impact in the veteran arts landscape and demonstrated once again that dance can be a powerful conduit for connection, reflection, and national dialogue.