Home Health Workers to be Honored in New York’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

NEW YORK (March 9, 2021)—Organizers for the 260th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City—the oldest and largest in the world—announced that the 2021 parade will honor New York’s leading first responders, essential workers and other heroes who have helped the Big Apple navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
The 2021 parade, set to take place on March 17th, will continue the honored tradition of being led by “The Fighting 69th,” the 69th Regiment of the New York State National Guard created during the Civil War. 
 
Joining them will be representatives from various essential worker groups, including the NYPD, FDNY, MTA, NYC Department of Sanitation, Northwell Health, and Briarwood, Queens-based Home Healthcare Workers of America (HHWA), which represents over 28,000 home health care workers throughout the Tri-State Area. 
 
HHWA is part of the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades (IUJAT), one of the oldest labor unions in continuous existence in the United States, dating back to 1874. Kevin Barry, Business Agent for IUJAT, has been selected to represent HHWA at this year’s 2021 St. Patrick’s Day parade.
 
“It’s an honor for the Home Health Care Workers of America and the IUJAT to be recognized along with New York’s fire, police, EMS and other critical first responders and essential workers,” said Barry. “The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is an institution predating the foundation of our American democracy. Its spotlighting of our region’s essential workforce means so much to the tens of thousands of women and men we represent, who manned the front lines throughout the pandemic.” 
 
Lori Ames, National Secretary-Treasurer of HHWA, said, “Our members are New York’s compassionate caregivers, entering the homes of some of our region’s most vulnerable elderly, infirm, and homebound individuals who might otherwise be totally isolated. We are proud of the work that they provide our society and extend our deepest thanks to the Parade Committee for this special recognition.” 
 
As in 2020, when the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade became one of the first major events to be reimagined in the wake of the pandemic, the 260th annual parade will be a scaled-down affair, limited to parade leaders and representatives from selected first responder groups.
 
In addition to limited in-person events, the 2021 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade will feature a significant virtual presence. Well-wishers are invited to share messages of thanks and encouragement to first responders and essential workers, which will appear in the first-ever New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade Gallery of Greetings on the event’s website and Facebook page.