Alfred E. Smith Is The NYC Grand Marshal For 2013

The St Patrick's Day Parade Committee has announced the selection of former Wall Street specialist and retired Managing Director of Bear Wagner Specialists LLC, Alfred E. Smith as the Grand Marshal for the 2013 New York City St Patrick's Day Parade.

Mr. Smith is the great-grandson of the legendary Al Smith, Governor of New York, and serves as the Director, Secretary, and Dinner Chairman for the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation.

He is active in many community affairs and has received numerous honors from many organizations recognizing his lifelong endeavors on both sides of the Atlantic.

Mr. Smith sits on the Boards of The Tony Blair Faith Foundation, Mutual of America, and Provectus Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

He is a Senior Advisor for the Marwood Group, as well as Kroll Bond Rating Agency. Smith also served as Chairman of the Board of Saint Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York.

Alfred E Smith will have the honor of leading the 252nd consecutive New York City St Patrick's Day; the world's oldest and largest civic parade that celebrates "The Faith of Ireland, Irish heritage and Culture" which will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

John Dunleavy, Chairman of the Parade, said "We are delighted Mr. Smith has been selected as the 2013 Grand Marshal.

"He is an outstanding Irish American who has devoted a huge amount of his energy and charisma contributing to the legacy of the Irish in this great country.

"We are delighted he has accepted the honor to lead us on March 16 and we look forward to a wonderful day celebrating our Irish heritage with Al Smith at the helm."

The New York City St Patrick's Parade marched for the first time in 1762, fourteen years before the Declaration of Independence was signed in Independence Hall, Philadelphia.

The Parade is regarded as the most popular of the all the parades in New York City, and honors Saint Patrick - the patron Saint of the Archdiocese of New York and Ireland.

The New York Parade consists only of marchers and each year hosts some 250,000 marchers and two million spectators.