For the past 20 years, the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade Motorcade has only gone on with the help of one special veteran.

"I owe it to those guys who gave their lives for us to stay in here today. I wouldn't to be here today if it wasn't for them," says Prisco "Pete" DeAngelis, as his friends call him.

At 88 years old, DeAngelis's love for his country is just as strong as when he came home from the Korean War in 1954.

"I served in Korea, 1952 with the Seventh Division 32nd Infantry Regiment," DeAngelis says, who is also a Purple Heart recipent. "Ammo round came in the hole and blew us all out."

He's a Purple Heart recipient with a heart of gold.

"To hear the music, to hear the military music, to see the active servicemen driving with us, it just puts a dent in my heart to see this," DeAngelis says.

DeAngelis has made it a priority for the Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade Motorcade to go off without a hitch.

"I mean who cares about the food, the dancing. Let's first get the veterans, remember the veterans," DeAngelis says, who also sets an example to everyone about what Memorial Day really is about. "They gave their life so we can be free."

While our flag flies high, DeAngelis also offers some advice.

"Respect your elders, respect your military people. Just respect the citizens of the United States and all of countries. Don't only pick... respect the human race," he asks.