Brooklyn was decked out in red, white and blue on Sunday as locals celebrated the city’s oldest — and earliest — Independence Day Parade.
The 118th Annual American Independence Day Parade kicked off with a mass at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Sunset Park, after which the parade organizers handed out recognitions to several Brooklynites who have done good for their communities. Among the awardees were parade grand marshals Norman Goben, the parade’s grand marshal and a member of the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution; and Michael Grillo, a museum historian educator, both recognized for their “meritorious life time of service with dedication, commitment, and loyalty to your community and to your country.”
With the awards doled out, the patriotic procession stepped off from 5th Avenue and 59th Street at 11:30 a.m., led by the NYPD’s ceremonial color guard and marching band. Brooklynites lined the streets, waving American flags and cheering as the parade streamed past.
Among the marchers were the Knights of Columbus, community groups, Boy Scouts, and historic cars — plus grand marshals Grillo and Goben decked out in historical garb. Grillo dressed as General George Washington, and Goben as a Continental Army soldier.
First held in 1905, the Brooklyn American Independence Day Parade is believed to be New York City’s longest-running Independence Day parade, and this year’s celebration marked the 249th anniversary of American independence and the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps.
Brooklyn played a critical part in the Revolutionary War and American Independence, and saw one of the largest battles of the entire war, the Battle of Brooklyn. On August 27, 1776, British troops cornered American forces in what’s now Brooklyn Heights, and fighting sprawled across the borough from Fort Greene Park to the Old Stone House and Green-Wood Cemetery. It was the first time British and American troops faced off after the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the first time American soldiers faced the British in an open field.
The battle was devastating for the Americans as the British killed at least 1,000 of them and occupied Brooklyn and Manhattan. But, there was a success — General George Washington and his army, who were in Brooklyn when the battle began, managed to flee across the East River and were eventually instrumental in winning the war. Each year, the battle is commemorated at Green-Wood Cemetery, and the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution is named after the Battle of Brooklyn.
While the Brooklyn Independence Day Parade has remained one of the borough’s longest-running traditions, it has changed with the times, too. The parade has been held in Prospect Park West, Dyker Heights, Bay Ridge, and Carroll Gardens, and settled in Sunset Park four years ago. For over a century, it was held on July 4, but organizers eventually opted to move it to the Sunday before the busy holiday to ensure more Brooklynites could attend and participate — hence this year’s parade falling on June 29.
