By Bill Parry
The borough will be awash in green this weekend. The traditional Queens County St. Patrick’s Day Parade steps off in Rockaway Saturday at 1 p.m.
Trade unionism will be honored this year with Steamfitters Local Union 638 president Patrick Dolan Jr. serving as Grand Marshall. The Rockaway resident was born and raised in Middle Village.
On Sunday the Saint Pat’s for All Parade gets underway at 1 p.m., beginning at 43rd Street on Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside. The parade will come to an end at 58th Street and Woodside Avenue. More than 100 marching groups reflecting the diversity of Queens are expected to march in the parade, including Irish organizations, pipe bands, Girl Scouts, and immigrant and LGBT groups.
Pulitzer prize-winning journalist and author Dan Barry and disarmament educator and anti-nuclear educator and activist Dr. Kathleen Sullivan will serve as grand marshals of the all-inclusive parade, now in its 19th year.
The parade’s co-founder, Astoria resident Brendan Fay, said the focus of this year’s march is the immigrant communities of Queens.
“At the parade we will carry signs of support for immigrants, our neighbors, friends and family who await the DACA decision,” he said. “St. Pat’s for All brings us together in solidarity and support.”
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
