Hometown Heroes! New York City’s essential
Mayor Bill de Blasio waved to onlookers.
BY DEAN MOSES
A city showed its thanks to the heroes
of the last 17 months through an
extravagant parade Wednesday,
July 7.
During the height of the COVID-19
pandemic, the term essential worker was
coined and healthcare professionals, supermarket
employees, educational staff,
fi refi ghters, and more were elevated to hero
status. Now, as the Big Apple emerges from
the ashes of the worst global health crisis
in over a century, a who’s who of elected
offi cials lined up to demonstrate their
gratitude in front of a legion of television
cameras and a roaring crowd of supporters.
The parade, dubbed “Hometown Heroes,”
was the largest ticker-tape parade
to grace New York City in history and
the fi rst procession in almost two years.
Kicking off at 11 a.m. in Battery Park, the
event was helmed by Mayor Bill de Blasio,
First Lady Chirlane Irene McCray, and the
parade’s grand marshal Sandra Lindsay, a
Queens nurse who was the fi rst person in
the United States to receive the COVID-19
vaccine.
While several politicians including
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer,
Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, and
Democrat primary mayoral candidate Eric
Adams extended their arms in gratitude,
the eyes of the city were fi rmly set on the
cavalcade of essential workers who kept
the city going through the harshest of
times.
Plumes of confetti bursted through the
air from a convoy of 14 fl oats and rained
from high rising buildings and down onto
about 260 varying workers who drove and
marched through the Canyon of Heroes,
stretching along Broadway from Battery
Park to City Hall.
“Let’s thank our health care heroes!
You guys are amazing! Thank you to the
nurses, thank you to the doctors, thank you
to the technicians — everybody who made
the hospitals work during the crisis, you
are our heroes. Thank you,” de Blasio said
as Mount Sinai and other hospital workers
marched past a stage with a sign reading,
“No stopping New York.”
The echoing sound of drums, bagpipes,
horns, and musical performances by
more than 10 bands resounded through
the streets as essential workers marched
through Broadway to the delight of thousands
of spectators.
Members of various union groups such
as 32BJ, 1199, NYSNA, as well as mascots
Mr. and Mrs. Met threw their hands in the
air and shouted for joy as they showed their
pride for their heroes. Additionally, staff
members from local medical facilities such
PHOTOS BY DEAN MOSES
A shower of colors surrounded participants.
Confetti burst through the air during the Hometown H “No stopping New York!” eroes parade.
2 July 8, 2021 Schneps Media