Sunita Williams Celebrated as Grand Marshal at Veterans Day Parade

Indian American astronaut Sunita Williams was honored as the Grand Marshal of the Veterans Day Parade in New York, leading a procession of 20,000 participants. Reflecting on her Navy background, she expressed pride in honoring veterans from all generations. Williams, a retired Navy captain and record-holding astronaut, has completed three space missions and is known for her significant contributions to space exploration. The parade celebrated the service of military personnel and featured various community groups and floats. Join us to learn more about this inspiring event and Williams' remarkable journey.

By Narendra Chaudhary Nov 12, 2026, 13:48 IST

Honoring Veterans with a Grand Marshal

Photo: @1Hindu_Sanatani/X

New York, Nov 12: Sunita Williams, an Indian American astronaut, was honored as the Grand Marshal during the Veterans Day Parade, an event dedicated to recognizing the contributions of former military personnel.

Leading a procession of 20,000 participants along Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Wednesday, Williams, a retired Navy captain, expressed her gratitude for the role she played in the event.

She described the honor of being Grand Marshal as "incredible" and reflected on how her Navy experience has significantly influenced her life and prepared her for future challenges.

"I take pride in joining New Yorkers and Americans nationwide to celebrate the service, sacrifice, and dedication of veterans from all eras," she stated.

Before her NASA career, Williams served as a test pilot and has completed three space missions, accumulating a total of 608 days in space. She holds the record for the most spacewalks by a woman, with nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours.

This year marked the 107th annual Veterans Day Parade, featuring thousands of veterans, military contingents, local law enforcement, community organizations, and school groups, along with various musical bands.

Numerous companies showcased floats in the parade, highlighting their employees who are former military members.

On the day prior to the parade, Williams participated in the 251st anniversary celebration of the Marine Corps aboard the USS San Antonio.

She is the daughter of Deepak Pandya, a neuroanatomist, and Ursuline Pandya, who hails from Slovenia.

Williams gained attention when her eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2024 extended to nine months due to technical difficulties with the Boeing Starliner. Eventually, she was rescued and returned to Earth by a SpaceX Crew-9 mission alongside fellow astronaut Butch Wilmore.

In 2006, she took a copy of the Bhagavad Gita to the ISS and brought the Upanishads with her in 2012.