[Rockaway] Saint Patrick’s Parade

By Dan Guarino

Under sunny skies and slightly warmer temperatures, the 39th Annual Rockaway St. Patrick’s Day Parade stepped off on Saturday, March 1st.

More than 73 contingents, including 15 plus pipe bands, marched from Beach 130th Street to Beach 102nd Street. Thousands watched and cheered along the route as a mass array of banners, flags, floats, fire trucks, music, dancing, leprechauns, costumes and more passed in review. Spirits were high as spectators and marchers, neighbors and friends often greeted each other along the way.

In some ways this parade was a continuation of last year’s. Mere months after the storm, that gathering marched under cold and gray skies and passed many still damaged homes and empty stores.

A full year may have separated each, but one theme united them both. As one passing banner put it this year “Bruised But Not Broken. Rebuild The Rockaways!”

Contributing photographers: Nancy Herman, Paul Lurrie, Katie McFadden, Susan Locke, Barbara Rock, Michael Schor, Edwin Williams, Dan Guarino, Tom Kerr.