A sea of green marchers will be making their way down East Tremont Avenue in Throggs Neck this Sunday.
The 17th Annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off a noon on Sunday, March 15 at Lafayette Avenue and East Tremont Avenue in what is sure to be a shamrock-laden spectacle.
There will be a reviewing stand at Harding and East Tremont avenues.
This year’s grand marshals are Throggs Neck couple Agnes and Patrick Lynch, with the honored clergy Msgr. John Graham, pastor of St. Raymond’s Church in Castle Hill.
Graham said that he was looking forward to taking part in the event, which celebrates Saint Patrick.
“I am looking forward to representing our section of the Bronx, and am honored to have been chosen honored clergyman.”
He added that he hopes that Saint Patrick’s values – including concern for poor, inclusion of all people, and service to the church – will be something the parade spectators will appreciate.
As of press time, the weather for this year’s parade looked good, with temperatures expected to be around 50 degrees with no rain in early forecasts.
“The weather looks like it is going to be good, which is an important part of any parade,” said Karin O’Conner, a parade committee member.
She said that two new bands, The Westchester Brassmen Drum and Bugle Corps and the Archbishop Malloy High School bagpipe band from Queens, would be joining in the festivities for the first time.
“We are really excited to have so many groups return to march with us, and the addition of the two more bands that will make for an even better parade,” said O’Conner. “That’s all we can hope for: good weather and lots of people who will celebrate the day.”
According to the parade committee, 50 to 60 groups will march along with 20 bands, up from just five bands the first year the parade was held.
As there is the case annually at the parade, more than 20 recently deceased community members will be remembered as honorary grand marshals, with family and friends a part of the line of march.
They are Laura Casey D’Attore, Mary Finnegan, Theresa Flood, John ‘Onions’ Gregory, John Halpin, Bill Heaney, Thomas Hines, John ‘Jack’ Hepburn, Jerry Macchia, Dan Moloney, Donald McDonnell, Ron McKeegan, Joe Murray, Edward O’Connor, Michael ‘Mick’ O’Donnell, Maurice ‘Mickey’ Powers, former Councilwoman Madeline Provenzano, John Scully, Grace Sullivan, Kitty Tarsnane, Martin Tighe, Bronx Times history columnist Bill Twomey, Cornelius Wallace, Eileen Walpole and Robert Zeiss.
The people of the borough have continued to embrace the Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Day Parade, said O’Conner.
“It has been a source of fun for many families throughout the neighborhood,” she said.
