With a wave and a smile, retired U.S. Army Col. Paris D. Davis served as grand marshal of the 91st Hollywood Christmas Parade on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Davis, 84, wore a military uniform decorated with medals. He rode along the 3.2-mile parade route seated on the back of a convertible with relatives.
The parade, which supports Marine Toys for Tots, also featured Hollywood celebrities, movie cars, bands, and floats.
Actors Erik Estrada and Dean Cain hosted the annual event, along with media figures Montel Williams, Laura McKenzie and Elizabeth Stanton.
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It was such an honor to be recognized as the 2023 Humanitarian of the Year at the #HollywoodChristmasParade!????The iconic parade will air in primetime on @TheCW December 15th! pic.twitter.com/qY80FxCYys
— Paula Abdul (@PaulaAbdul) November 28, 2023
Davis lives in Alexandria, Virginia. He was announced as the parade’s grand marshal in a Nov. 10 press release.
“I am especially pleased that this wonderful annual tradition raises awareness of the important work that Marine Toys for Tots are doing to bring gifts and holiday cheer to those less fortunate,” Davis said in a statement. “The parade also brings goodwill to people from all walks of life throughout the world.”
One of the first Black officers to lead a special forces team, Davis gained national attention in March when he was awarded the Medal of Honor — the military’s highest award — by President Joe Biden for “conspicuous gallantry.”
In 1965, Davis rescued two fellow Americans who were “incapacitated” during a firefight in North Vietnamese territory.
“Davis located their positions and moved to suppress enemy guns and personally rescue each to the safety of the friendly Company position,” the White House said in a press release.
After surviving the ordeal, he returned home and was immediately nominated for the Medal of Honor. Yet it took decades for Davis to actually receive the honor after the Army “lost” his nomination at least twice. For years, his supporters said Davis was overlooked because of his race.
Despite the oversight, he welcomed the long-delayed honor in March.
“Just to be able to be considered for the Medal of Honor is one thing,” Davis said, according to CNN. “To receive it is all the things I’ve never dreamed.”
Watch a news report below on the Hollywood Christmas Parade.
