Photo By Staff Sgt. Heather Atherton | U.S. Marine Corps Maj. James McBride, the Aviation Assistant for Officer Procurement...... read more read more
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Raised in Little Neck, NY, U.S. Marine Corps Major James W. McBride is honored by his hometown as the Grand Marshall in the 2024 Memorial Day Parade. The McBride family has strong roots within the community, investing time in the parade and volunteer events as he grew up and even now. “I was actually on the parade committee as a 13 year-old,” said McBride, “just helping out as a volunteer and youth leader throughout my younger years.” Even after completing his initial training in the Marine Corps and being ‘winged’ a naval aviator in 2009, McBride continued this tradition by conducting ‘fly-overs’ for the parade and celebrations.
The parade symbolizes not only community but family for the Major, “My father was a big part of the community as well,” said McBride. His father, Charles W. McBride, a 20 year NYPD officer, was the Man of the Year for the Parade in 1997 and honored again in 2022 as an honorary Grand Marshall when he passed that year.
It was just this that brought Major McBride back to New York on orders from the Marine Corps. “My father passed away two years ago,” said McBride, “he was an exact kidney match to my mom so she actually got both his kidneys when he passed.” Major McBride now stands as the Aviation Assistant for Officer Procurement (AAOP) for 1st Marine Corps District. Within this title he supports the recruiting effort by assisting eligible men and women bridge their passion for flying to their future in Naval Aviation for the United State Marine Corps. In this position he supports 17 Officer Selection Stations located all throughout the Northeast region.
Prior to his current command Maj McBride was stationed in North Carolina where he Deployed with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit and to Afghanistan as the Quality Assurance Officer. Over his tenure McBride has flown over 1400 hours on multiple platforms with 249 of those hours being under combat conditions. In 2018 Major McBride “earned his jump wings” by completing the Army Infantry School’s Airborne Course to support his unit’s jump mission.
Setting the example is a principle that was clearly instilled in the Major long before he entered the Marine Corps and still shines through with Major McBride and this year's parade shows his commitment not only to country and corps but community. “The parade isn't just a display of patriotism,” McBride said, “it's a symbol of resilience as a nation in memory of our fallen who gave their lives for our country.” Major McBride hopes to retire in New York to be close to family and continue to give back to his community.
| Date Taken: | 05.27.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 06.20.2024 10:13 |
| Story ID: | 472621 |
| Location: | LITTLE NECK, NEW YORK, US |
| Hometown: | LITTLE NECK, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 91 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Honored in a Hometown, by SSgt Heather Atherton, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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