By:Jennifer Marino
Mayor Eugene Murray said this year's parade drew the biggest crowds he's ever seen. Some, including Deputy Mayor Wayne Lipton, speculate the higher than average turnout by village children was because all soccer games were canceled for the day. "All in all, it was an absolutely wonderful day," trustee Mary Bossart said.
There were lots of bagpipers and a contingent of Irish step-dancers. The crowds cheered loudly for the men and women in uniform both retired and current. Marines and brothers Timmy and Sean Ledwith marched in their dress uniforms holding the official parade banner. The Ledwiths recently served in Iraq and are from Lynbrook. They were asked to be a special part of the parade.
The parade wowed the crowds lining Maple Avenue for over an hour and half. Besides some new groups like the Saffron United Pipe Band from Long Island, there were old favorites like very large Irish wolfhounds and the Rockville Centre Fire Department. Other volunteer fire departments from neighboring villages like Malverne, South Hempstead and East Rockaway also joined in the march.
Grand Marshal Joseph K. Collins donned an Irish sweater and waved to the crowds. This is the eighth year for the parade and Collins joined former grand marshals Reverend John R. McGann and Mayor Eugene Murray. Collins' grandfather Patrick J. Collins was once grand marshal of the St. Patrick's Day parade in New York City.
Rockville Centre's parade is known as "the parade that shares and cares." This year it raised money for the Boomer Esiason Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Project Children and the Friends of RVC 911 Memorial Foundation. Since its inception in 1997 the parade has raised over $203,000 for various charities. One of the ways it raises money is through the banners in the parade which companies and residents sponsor for anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000.
