A tradition celebrating community and Irish pride returns on Sunday, March 10.
The 21st annual Throggs St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off at noon on March 10 and marches along East Tremont Avenue from a starting point at Lafayette Avenue to a reviewing stand at Harding Avenue.
Spectators are expected to line East Tremont Avenue as a sea of green marchers and spectators blanket the street.
This year’s grand marshals are former Congressman Joseph Crowley and Margaret ‘Peggy’ McKeegan, a very active parishioner at St. Frances de Chantal and a former NYS Senate chief of staff.
The honored religious for the parade is Sr. Teresa Barton, Villa Maria Academy principal for 21 years and a member of Congregation of Notre Dame sisters.
Crowley, who left the U.S. Congress at the start of 2019, said he was moved by the honor, adding that the Irish have contributed greatly to the the borough and city.
“It is not just a great day for the Irish in New York, it is a great day for Bronxites in general,” he said.
McKeegan said her family will be marching in the parade, and are creating a banner in her honor.
Her children, ten grandchildren and three great-grandchildren plan to attend, she said.
“I am hoping for good weather of course and a lighthearted peaceful day when everyone will join with one another and celebrate the community of Throggs Neck,” said McKeegan.
McKeegan said that her godchild and nephew, Kevin Delaney, is being posthumously remembered as one of the parades honorary grand marshals, an honor the parade committee bestows on the recently deceased.
“He was a good person who was full of fun,” she said. “We will get together and celebrate his life.”
The grand marshal she especially likes the music and bagpipers.
Barton said that she has attended the parade during her years in the neighborhood, and that she herself is of Irish heritage.
“I feel that the parade celebrates the Irish culture and it brings together all the people who live in Throggs Neck and around the area for a fun day,” said Barton, adding “For the religious aspect, I feel it is also a tribute to the values and religious beliefs of Saint Patrick, the religious patron saint of Ireland.”
The spectators lining the route are a great aspect of the parade, said Barton, citing their enthusiasm in waving and supporting the marchers.
Families of recently deceased community members who are being remembered as honorary grand marshals will be marching in the parade.
The 2019 parade’s honorary grand marshals are Barbara Archambault, Lee Baumann, Eugene Callan, William Corbett, Kevin Curran, Delaney, John Donovan, Miriam Donovan, John Geideman, Carolyn Gross-Kreidemaker, William Johnson, Matthew Kuhl, Terence ‘Terry’ Lorino, Michael Lynch, Diane ‘Dee’ McSwigin, Elizabeth ‘Lily’ Mullane, Michael Nash, Thomas O’Donnell, John O’Gara, Barbara Powers, John Powers, Arthur Reilly, Joseph Riordan, Elizabeth Roche, Lyn Scheuring, David Sheehan, Margaret Sullivan and Michael Sullivan.
There will be a Mass for marchers at St. Benedicts Church and a pre-breakfast for marchers sponsored by Schuyler Hill Funeral Home, according to the parade committee.
