EXCLUSIVE: Ticker tape parade for Iraq, Afghanistan war vets put on hold ...

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What a difference seven months makes.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, who in the spring called for a Canyon of Heroes parade in lower Manhattan to honor Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, now says the celebrations would be inappropriate because of the stepped-up U.S. role in Iraq and Syria to battle ISIS.

A parade 'would only be appropriate and respectful to our heroes once combat operations abroad have ceased,' he said.

Back in April, Schumer (D-N.Y.) appeared at the statue of the Wall Street bull on lower Broadway with veterans to push for a parade. 'Now is the time,' he said.

But in an interview shortly before Veterans Day, he stressed that he was still very much in favor of honoring the vets - just not now.

'Honoring our returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans in a grand, New York ticker tape fashion is absolutely the right thing to do, and at the proper time, I am confident that the Department of Defense will agree,' he said.

While the push for the ticker tape parade has been postponed, the annual Veterans Day parade is very much on.

Some 25,000 marchers, including vets from every conflict since World War II, are expected to march up Fifth Ave. Tuesday in a red, white and beautiful display of American pride.

More than half a million viewers are expected to line the 1.3-mile route and cheer them on under partly cloudy skies with a temperature of 62 degrees.

'I'm looking forward to the parade coming to life on Fifth Ave.,' said Marleen Levi of Brooklyn, who coordinates volunteers for the march. 'As staging is set up and it all pulls together, it's like magic. I am filled with overflowing pride and patriotism seeing our veterans of all eras in the parade.'

This year, the grand marshal is the city's former top cop, Raymond Kelly, who was a Marine lieutenant in the Vietnam War and spent another three decades in the reserves.

Marching with Kelly will be his partner of 50 years - his wife, Veronica. She also happens to be a 10-year veteran of the Coast Guard reserves.

The parade, which was organized by the United War Veterans Council and airs live in New York City, kicks off at 11:15 a.m. from 26th St. and finishes at 52nd St.

Staff Sgt. CurtCashour/MNC-I Public Affairs

Exactly 15 minutes before the parade starts, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at the Eternal Light Monument in Madison Square Park to honor those who gave their lives fighting for America.

The theme of this year's parade is 'Land of the Free, Home of the Brave' to honor the 200th anniversary of Francis Scott Key writing 'The Star-Spangled Banner.'

The campaign for the ticker tape parade has been delayed because of the increased hostilities in the Middle East. President Obama on Friday authorized the deployment of 1,500 additional troops in Iraq, effectively doubling the U.S. presence in the country to 3,100.

The U.S. has been conducting airstrikes since early August to help Iraqi and Syrian rebels fight ISIS.

Some supporters still think it's the right time to honor those who fought.

'It's never a bad time for a ticker tape parade,' said City Councilman Eric Ulrich (R-Queens), chairman of the Council's Veterans Committee. 'It's long overdue.'

STAFF SGT. SHAWN NICKEL/AFP/Getty Images

Although the plans have been put on hold, Schumer's office said it had secured approvals within the Pentagon and the Obama administration that will make it easier to plan the parade when it finally does get the go-ahead.

Mayor de Blasio, whose father lost a leg in World War II, said he supports a Afghanistan-Iraq war veteran parade when the Pentagon deems it the right time.

'Mayor de Blasio continues to believe that our veterans returning home to New York from Iraq and Afghanistan deserve recognition of their service and sacrifice for our country,' said his spokeswoman Marti Adams.

'The city would be proud to host a ticker tape parade for these heroes.'

The city has a long history of honoring returning war veterans with parades up Broadway in lower Manhattan, and did so after World War II and the first Persian Gulf War.

Vietnam War vets also got a ticker tape parade, but not until 1985, 10 years after the war ended.

With Larry McShane and Corky Siemaszko

jfermino@nydailynews.com

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