NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — New York City gave its pandemic heroes a spirited thank you as it honored first responders and essential workers with an emotional and joyous ticker-tape parade in Lower Manhattan.
The "Hometown Heroes" Parade stepped off in Battery Park at 11 a.m. Wednesday and made its way up the "Canyon of Heroes" to City Hall Park.
While the intense heat and humidity canceled plans for a large City Hall ceremony that was set to take place at the conclusion of the parade, it did not stop throngs of spectators from coming out to cheer on and thank the first responders and essential workers who kept the city going during the darkest days of the pandemic.
Spectators thank the city's pandemic frontline workers at the Hometown Heroes ticker-tape parade.Tim Scheld/WCBS 880
Additional cooling and water stations were set up along the route as temperatures climbed into the 90s with a heat index of 102.
Red, white and blue confetti rained down as 14 floats representing 260 different groups of essential workers, including those in health care, transportation, education, infrastructure and the media, made their way up Broadway as revelers stood on the sidelines waving flags and holding signs of gratitude.
The event also featured 10 bands, including a live performance by the 80s cover band, Jessie's Girl.
Mr. Met and Mrs. Met attend the "Hometown Heroes" Ticker Tape Parade on July 07, 2021 in New York, New York.Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Mayor Bill de Blasio rode on the Northwell Health float, which at one point stopped to let Mr. and Mrs. Met onboard.
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams also marched in the parade after claiming victory in the Democratic primary for New York City mayor.
The grand marshal of the parade was Queens nurse Sandra Lindsay, who was the first person in the United States to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
"I'm honored to be here today to lead this parade to represent all health care workers in the city and around the world who have been fighting this fight," Lindsay told WCBS 880. "I'm so grateful to them for the big New York City hug, so thank you all."
Last week, President Joe Biden presented Lindsay, who immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica when she was 18, with the "Outstanding American by Choice Award," which recognizes naturalized citizens who have made significant contributions to our country.
Her scrubs, vaccination card and badge that she wore the day she received her first dose of the Pfizer vaccine are displayed at the COVID-19 exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum of American History.
A float makes its way up the Canyon of Heroes during the Hometown Heroes ticker-tape parade in New York City.Sean Adams/WCBS 880
Among those marching in the parade was Vivian Moy, a volunteer with the American Red Cross of Greater New York.
"It's a wonderful honor to be in this historic parade honoring all of the people that kept this city going," said Moy, who has been a volunteer with the organization for eight years. "I always felt that as a Red Cross volunteer we were always essential... It's a wonderful day today and I'm looking forward to marching."
The Red Cross assisted hospitals across the city and suburbs during the height of the crisis.
"And I remember this one emergency room nurse came up to the table and, I get goosebumps when I tell this story, and I gave her the package and her eyes welled up with tears and she looked at me and she said in barely a whisper, she said it's been so hard," Moy said.
WCBS 880's very own Marla Diamond also reported and marched in the parade on behalf of journalists.
"I'm honored, I was really surprised and pleased that they asked me to do this to represent journalists," Diamond said. "We worked through the pandemic, we did not take any time off, we were on the streets, we told the stories and we did get sick, many of us did get sick with COVID, but thank God we've reached this day, it does seem like a distant memory now, but it is so nice to get the adulation and thanks for New Yorkers."
Previous parades have honored world leaders, veterans, celebrities, astronauts and winning sports teams.
The last parade was in 2019, celebrating the U.S. women's soccer team after their World Cup win.
Red, white and blue confetti litters the sidewalk along the Canyon of Heroes during the Hometown Heroes parade.Tim Scheld/WCBS 880
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams marches in the Hometown Heroes parade after claiming victory in Democratic primary for New York City mayor.Tim Scheld/WCBS 880
Nurse at Northwell Health's Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, Sandra Lindsay attends the "Hometown Heroes" Ticker Tape Parade on July 07, 2021 in New York, New York.Cindy Ord/Getty Images
New York City honors first responders and essential workers with Hometown Heroes ticker-tape parade.Peter Haskell/WCBS 880
Mayor Bill de Blasio thanks essential workers at Hometown Heroes ticker-tape parade.Peter Haskell/WCBS 880
Spectators out at the Hometown Heroes parade in New York CityPeter Haskell/WCBS 880
Essential workers march in the Hometown Heroes parade in New York CitySean Adams/WCBS 880
People throw confetti out of windows as hundreds of police, fire, hospital, and other first responders march in a ticker-tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes on July 07, 2021 in New York City.Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
People hold up signs as hundreds of police, fire, hospital, and other first responders march in a ticker-tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes on July 07, 2021 in New York City.Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Hundreds of police, fire, hospital and other first responder workers and essential workers participate in a ticker tape parade along the Canyon of Heroes to honor the workers who helped navigate New York through Covid-19 on July 07, 2021 in New York City.Spencer Platt/Getty Images
A 118-year-old subway car carries essential workers in Hometown Heroes parade.Sean Adams/WCBS 880
The team from Columbia University Irving Medical Center line up for a photo at the Hometown Heroes ParadeTim Scheld/WCBS 880
NYPD Police Band at the Hometown Heroes parade in New York City.Tim Scheld/WCBS 880
