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Miller Photography

For nearly 20 years, UFT members who served in the armed forces have gathered in Madison Square Park on Nov. 11 for New York City’s Veterans Day ceremony and parade. This year, veterans who served in Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan presented a wreath from the UFT in the opening ceremony and then marched in the parade on Fifth Avenue with New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer. They were also there to raise awareness about the Veterans Equity Act, a state bill that would allow veterans who become civil servants — such as teachers — to buy back up to three years of pension credit for years of service in the military. (Gov. Cuomo, who vetoed the bill last year, now says he will support a version of it.) “The parade was outstanding, one of the nicest parades we’ve had in a long time,” said John Garvey, who served during the Gulf War and recently retired after 26 years of teaching special education. “When veterans get together, we can’t stop talking. It’s nice to remember.”