Support for Ukraine, Yonkers parade on McLean Quickly Becoming One of the Best in the Country
By Dan Murphy, photos from various Facebook pages
10 years ago, the Yonkers Saint Patrick’s Day Parade moved to McLean Avenue. Ten years later, the Yonkers Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on McLean is one of the best in the country.
This year, the committee named Pat McCrudden as the Grand Marshal. Pat and husband Larry did great work with the old Yonkers Parade along Broadway, and it is a worthy honor that Pat had to wait three years for.
The pipers and dancers were back, as well as the large crowds. In addition to the usual Irish flags, alot of Ukrainian flags were flown in support of the people of Ukraine.This seamless transition, into one of the United States great parades, cannot be overstated. Parade co-chair Deirdre O’Mara posted, “10 years ago today we held the 1st ever St Patrick’s day on McLean Ave. It was also on March 19th, St Joseph’s day. It was one of my proudest days in this country. Walking up the Emerald Mile was the result of the work of so many people in MAMA led by none other than RJ Puma. Now it is the 65th Yonkers parade, it’s 67th year but we all know what we have been through these past 2 years. Today we are back, changed in so many ways over both the 10 and the past 2 years, but still proud of what we have accomplished.”The other positive that we see every years at the Yonkers Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on McLean Ave. is that there are few if any incidents that warrant intervention from the Yonkers Police. Despite thousands of spectators and many of those spectators enjoying a beverage at one of the pubs that line McLean, it is one of the safest places to be.
