BOSTON – Beneath a pure blue sky and covered with sunshine, thousands of marchers and spectators enjoyed the 20th Greek parade presented by the Hellenes of New England. At the head of the parade was Boston’s new mayor, Martin J. Walsh, who praised the Greek-American community when he spoke to The National Herald.

Walsh said “I am so proud for this day and the parade…I have great respect and love for Boston’s Greek-American community,” adding that he went to school with many people of Greek descent.

The parade began at 1 PM, led by the police motorcycle corps and the Evzones, the Greek Presidential Guard.

The marchers paused for a moment to acknowledge Walsh, C. Ioannis Rammos, the president of the Federation of Hellenic-American Societies of New England, Metropolitan Methodios, Christos Panagopoulos, Greece’s ambassador to the United States and Ifigenia Kanara, the Consul General of Boston.