[caption id="attachment_69286" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="The 251st parade grand marshal, Frank Comerford."]
With the pinning on of the sash, 250 gave way to 251 and Mary Higgins Clark passed on the office of New York St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal to her successor, Francis X. Comerford.
With gracious words from Clark, and a self effacing response from Comerford, the parade succession took place on Tuesday of last week in a packed function room in New York Athletic Club on Central Park South.
Brooklyn native Comerford, who is president of NBC Commercial Operations, told his audience that for someone who was once an Irish kid growing up in a Catholic Irish neighborhood in Brooklyn, the dream of being someday grand marshal of the parade was an absolute one.
He was never so excited at the prospect, never so humbled at being chosen for what was the greatest honor for an Irish American.
Parade committee chairman John Dunleavy announced during the installation ceremony that the 251st parade would be dedicated to all U.S. veterans from every branch of service, and every war or conflict.
The installation of Comerford, whose Irish family roots are in County Kilkenny, was attended by Irish Consul General in New York, Noel Kilkenny, whose family roots are not, he being from Clare.
Also making an appearance during a schedule that can only be gathering rapid momentum was archbishop, and soon to be cardinal, Timothy Dolan who will be wearing a red hat by the time that Grand Marshal Comerford leads the parade past St. Patrick's Cathedral on Saturday, March 17.
"I would like to thank Mary Higgins Clark, our outgoing grand marshal, for making the 250th New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade an outstanding success," said chairman Dunleavy while congratulating her successor.
