Unions Join Festivities on St. Patrick’s Day – Special Photo Report

New York’s police commissioner Raymond Kelly was this year’s grand marshal to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and he led the parade with the city’s mayor, Michael Bloomberg. Not far behind were PBA President Patrick Lynch and many labor leaders. The Fighting 69th, founded in 1851, began the march at 11am.  Prior to the parade many key labor officials were seen at the traditional pre- St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast hosted by the McManus Democratic Club at T.G.I. Friday’s on E 42nd Street. 

The St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Fifth Avenue is a New York City’s tradition.  The Parade marched for the first time 249 years ago, on March 17, 1762. The parade is held every March 17th except when March 17th falls on a Sunday. In 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English army celebrated the holiday by marching through the streets of New York City. By 1848, the parade was an official city event.