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“I am just thrilled. It’s hard to believe.”
With these words, Francis X. Comerford took on the mantle of grand marshal of the 2012 New York St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Comerford, who is the chief revenue officer and president of commercial operations for NBC television, will lead the 251st parade up Fifth Avenue on March 17.
The network’s famous logo is a peacock and its New York affiliate, WNBC, annually broadcasts the parade.
Comerford, who was born and raised in Brooklyn, and whose Irish family roots are in County Kilkenny, said that as grand marshal he would work to honor his heritage, faith and America’s veterans.
The new grand marshal was revealed to the public Monday at a reception held at the Irish Consulate on Park Avenue. Comerford was flanked by the grand marshal of the 250th parade, author Mary Higgins Clark, and another former grand marshal, Cardinal Edward Egan, as he addressed the packed gathering.
Comerford said he was looking forward to leading the “best parade in the world in the best city in the world.” He will be officially installed as grand marshal at a ceremony in Manhattan in January.
Prior to Comerford’s words of acceptance, the invited crowd was addressed by, among others, Consul General Noel Kilkenny, parade secretary Hilary Beirne, vice chairman Dr. John Lahey, and chairman John Dunleavy, who lauded Comerford (who is no relation to the legendary parade committee chairman, Judge James Comerford) for being an outstanding Irish American who had devoted a huge amount of his energy and charisma contributing to the legacy of the Irish in America.
Dunleavy said that the 251st parade would be dedicated to America’s veterans from all branches of the armed forces.
Also addressing the gathering was the commanding officer of the Fighting 69th regiment, Lt. Colonel James Gonyo.
Gonyo told his listeners that members of the regiment were currently training for deployment to Afghanistan and that about 350 would be absent from the traditional place of the regiment at the head of the parade next March.
The 2012 parade will have a slightly adjusted route compared to the 2011 march. It will step off a couple of blocks higher up on Fifth Avenue, at 46th Street, and conclude a couple of blocks to the north of last year’s finish line, this to allow marchers to pass in front of the American Irish Historical Society on Fifth Avenue and 80th Street.
