Chief of Detectives Bobby Boyce
By Irish Echo Staff
No Nor-Easter. And perhaps St. Patrick to thank.
The 257th annual New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off from 44th Street and Fifth Avenue tomorrow, Saturday, at 11 a.m.
And it will do so under a fair March sky.
Some sunshine, some clouds are forecast but no rain, no snow.
In short, a break from recent weather in the New York area.
It will be a March day though so a little bundling up is advised.
Loretta Brennan Glucksman, a long-time education advocate and early supporter of the Irish peace process, is Grand Marshal, said a release from parade organizers.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio and other elected officials plan to march.
The parade is dedicated to Catholic Education and to the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Accords. New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Robert “Bobby” Boyce, who is retiring after 35 years on the streets of New York.
Chief Boyce, who will be 63 years old on March 18, the mandatory retirement age for uniformed NYPD members, had planned to make March 17 his last day on the job.
“I was going to march up Fifth Avenue as I done for so many years and then just keep marching off into the sunset,” said Boyce, who recalls missing only one parade in 35 years because he was working a case.
“But they asked me to stay around for a few more weeks to help with the transition.”
“Chief Bobby Boyce, who leads the finest detective force in the world and who has played an integral role in making New York the safest big city in the nation, is more than worthy of this honor,” said Dr. John Lahey, chairman of the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade Board of Directors.
“In fact, we are honored that this great leader – this great cop – will start us on our way.”
Added Boyce. “With my long-term affiliation with NYPD’s Emerald Society and Holy Name Society, New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade has always been significant for me.
“Now, in my home stretch as Chief of Detectives, this year’s parade will be particularly momentous for me, both personally and professionally, and it’s an absolute honor to start the parade,”
Boyce will blow the same whistle he used when he started on patrol in 1983.
The parade is broadcast live on WNBC-TV Channel 4 and will be live streamed on nbcnewyork.com and nycstpatricksparade.org.
