14th annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s parade steps off noon on Sunday

14th annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s parade steps off noon on Sunday|14th annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s parade steps off noon on Sunday|14th annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s parade steps off noon on Sunday|14th annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s parade steps off noon on Sunday
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The 14th annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick’s Parade steps off at noon at E. Tremont and Lafayette avenues on Sunday, March 11, with a sea of green spectators and participants expected along the parade route.

There will be a reviewing stand at Harding Avenue and E. Tremont Avenue, said parade organizers, and the parade route should also stretch several blocks on Harding Avenue itself.

This year’s grand marshals are Justice Douglas McKeon and local businesswoman Regina Gallagher-Marengo, while honored clergy will be Sister Bridget O’Sullivan, who has spent close to 65 years in religious life and 49 years teaching at St. Helena Girls and Monsignor Scanlan high schools.

Justice McKeon, the Administrative Judge for Civil Matters in the 12th Judicial District since January 2011, said that he had just one hope for the parade.

“First and foremost for any parade is that you want to have good weather,” said McKeon, who is a Pelham Parkway resident. “We know that we have a wonderful group and wonderful community, so if we are blessed with good weather, it ought to be a great day.”

Also keeping an eye in the sky for rain or shine is O’Sullivan, who will riding in a carriage with her niece Bridget Sullivan.

REGINA GALLAGHER-MARENGO

“I am hoping that it will be a beautiful day and that the parade will be well attended by people who live around East Tremont Avenue and even beyond,” O’Sullivan said.

The distinction of being honored clergy is a great honor for her because she was a religion teacher.

“This is a wonderful way to honor someone who has been a religion teacher for 65 years,” O’Sullivan said.

What the parade is celebrating definitely has its roots in the Catholic tradition, O’Sullivan stated.

“St. Patrick raised the shamrock with three leaves: the father who is the redeemer, the son who is the savior, and the holy spirit who is the sanctifier and keeps us holy if we stay close to it,” O’Sullivan said.

The parade will be proceeded by a mass at St. Benedict’s at 9 a.m., followed by breakfast in Father Albert Hall at 10 a.m for those marching.

SISTER BRIDGET O’SULLIVAN

Also being honored posthumously during the parade are 14 honorary grand marshals, community members who passed away recently and who exemplify the Irish-American spirit.

The honorary grand marshals are Joanie Callan, Mike DeStefano, Nancy Egan Doherty, Margaret Donnelly, Vincent Flynn, Mary Frano, Bernadette Hiney, Marion Keegan, John Keeney, Margaret “Peggy” Law, George Lock, Patrick “Beau” Lynch, Michael O’Connell, and Bridget Wallace.

The families of the honorary grand marshals will be marching together along the parade route.

Peter Flynn, the son of honorary grand marshal Vincent Flynn, said that he believes his father would have loved being honored because he was proud of his Irish heritage, and that it will bring his family closer together.

“It will bring our family together, and we are all going to out for lunch afterwards,” Peter Flynn said.

JUSTICE DOUGLAS MCKEON