Governor David Paterson was on hand to honor the life-blood of the West Indian Day Parade and Carnival, which enters its 42nd year this Labor Day.
During a special pre-parade reception at the Empire Fulton Ferry State Park’s Outdoor Warehouse Thursday, the governor and members of the West Indian American Day Carnival Association bestowed Leadership Awards to community activist Mary Barbara Walters, New York Carib News founders Karl and Faye Rodney, Dr. Lois Blades Rosado and HIV/AIDS specialist Dr. David John, who is the founding doctor of a center in Trinidad and Tabago.
Established in 1967, the West Indian-American Day Carnival Association has been the driving force behind the parade, the main focus of which is to develop, teach and promote Caribbean arts and culture.
Today, the West Indian Carnival Parade, which will kick off on September 7, is now the largest festival and parade in the United States, drawing as many as 3.5 million participants.