Yulan hosts parade’s 30th anniversary

By DAVID HULSE

YULAN — The green stripe will be in the road on March 17 and the Airport Road sign on the corner will disappear for the day as the 30th annual Yulan St. Patrick’s Day parade transforms the road into Marion O’Neill Way.

	TRR file photo Sunday, March 17 will be the day for this year’s parade. (Click for larger image)

Parade committee spokesperson Michael Donnelly said this year’s theme is a “Salute to American Heroes,” and special guests are expected to include members of the New York City emergency services agencies. “We’re hoping to have firemen, EMS people and cops who live in the area,” Donnelly said.

There will, of course, be music, several bands, a bagpiper, color guards from around the region and the parade is a magnet for firefighters from the river valley, all the way to Long Island. “There will be floats too, but we never know about them until the last moment,” Donnelly said.

	TRR file photo A perennial favorite, the Highland Flingers perform the finale under the traffic light in Yulan, during last year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade. (Click for larger image)

This year’s grand marshals, Nancy Walter and Klendin Kirby, will be leading the marching host.

The judges platform at the four corners; staffed this year by judges Lisa Donnelly, Ken Byrne and Lynne O’Neill, will again be the site for surprises and special entertainment.

The parade lines up at noon and steps off on Airport Road at 1:00 p.m. on March 17 . Come early for the best parking and viewing locations. For more information or to take part, contact Donnelly at 845/557-8455.