Thousands celebrate Puerto Rican Day Parade in NYC

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Members of the Latinas Hat Society march in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City on Sunday.

Monday June 11, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) -- New York City?s Fifth Avenue was transformed into a huge party Sunday as thousands marched and celebrated the National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

Crowds along the parade route waved the red, white, and blue of the Puerto Rican flag and cheered participants. Salsa dancers and dancers of the traditional "bomba y plena" paraded up the avenue surrounded by colorful floats and bands with trumpets and drums.

"It is an honor to be here because this year the parade celebrates our town, Guay ama. We call it the town of the witches," 50-year-old Adel aida Lopez said.

Approximately 80,000 people participate in the annual event, organizers said. The theme of this year?s parade was Puerto Ricans in higher education.

"There a is a lot to celebrate because Puerto Ricans, through higher education, have advanced as a community," said Dr. Felix Matos-Rodriguez, president of Hostos Community College and this year?s grand marshal. "This is a good moment to celebrate what we have done correctly and start working on the things we need to improve."

Ten percent of Hostos? students are Puerto Rican and sixty percent are Latino, Matos-Rodriguez said.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Michael Bloom berg, Congressman Robert Menendez and Con gress woman Nydia Velazquez, as well as Sen. Charles Shumer participated in the event. Congressman Charles Rangel paraded in a car with musician Willie

Colon.

The state, city and parade officials led the way as the parade kicked off under sunny skies in the late morning. Many Puerto Ricans said they arrived around hours before the start to get a spot with a good view.

"This is an event full of joy, it is a big party and it reminds me of home", said Jose Laureno, a 61-year-old maintenance worker who drove from North Bergen, N.J., with his family.

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