The streets were filled with revelers sporting green, shamrocks, kilts, or maybe even some combination of all three. Police Commissioner Ray Kelly struck a sentimental tone with NY1, "It really is a great day. The first parade I marched in was high school, then college. Then I remember policing many of these parades. The parade has gotten better, I think, in many ways."
Yet CityRoom remarked how the recession and continuing wars abroad tempered this year's parade: A 56-year-old Bronx resident whose mother was from Limerick, Ireland "said he lost the value of most of his 401(k) and was forced to retire from US Airways," noting, "I was in a union job, they tried to get rid of all of them."
Still, the beautiful weather meant thousands could enjoy the parade—and get ready for some more celebrating. One told NY1, "I'm going to drink a lot of the black stuff and then let my wife carry me home."
