Boston celebrates boisterous 117th St. Patrick's Day parade
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Photo: Steven Senne, AP Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Image 1 of 7 Members of OutVets, a group of gay military veterans, hold a banner and flags as they march in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. Boston's popular St. Patrick's Day parade is all about veterans, but not all who've served in uniform were allowed to march in the parade. Veterans for Peace, the anti-war group, wasn't allowed to walk in Sunday's parade. less Members of OutVets, a group of gay military veterans, hold a banner and flags as they march in the annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. Boston's popular St. Patrick's Day parade ... more Photo: Steven Senne, AP Image 2 of 7 Spectators wave an Irish flag while watching the annual St. Patrick's Day parade from a window, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. The city's 117th St. Patrick's Day Parade followed a shortened snow route used three of the past four years due to the buildup of snow from three recent nor'easters. less Spectators wave an Irish flag while watching the annual St. Patrick's Day parade from a window, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. The city's 117th St. Patrick's Day Parade followed a shortened snow route used ... more Photo: Steven Senne, AP Image 3 of 7 Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, right, greets people in the crowd during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. The city's 117th St. Patrick's Day Parade followed a shortened snow route used three of the past four years due to the buildup of snow from three recent nor'easters. less Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, right, greets people in the crowd during the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. The city's 117th St. Patrick's Day Parade followed a shortened ... more Photo: Steven Senne, AP Image 4 of 7 Spectators stay warm with hats and blankets while watching the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. The city's 117th St. Patrick's Day Parade followed a shortened snow route used three of the past four years due to the buildup of snow from three recent nor'easters. less Spectators stay warm with hats and blankets while watching the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. The city's 117th St. Patrick's Day Parade followed a shortened snow route used ... more Photo: Steven Senne, AP Image 5 of 7 Image 6 of 7 Members of the Stonehill Irish Dance Troupe, from Easton, Mass., perform as they make their way along the route of the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. The city's 117th St. Patrick's Day Parade followed a shortened snow route used three of the past four years due to the buildup of snow from three recent nor'easters. less Members of the Stonehill Irish Dance Troupe, from Easton, Mass., perform as they make their way along the route of the annual St. Patrick's Day parade, Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Boston. The city's 117th St. ... more Photo: Steven Senne, AP Image 7 of 7 Boston celebrates boisterous 117th St. Patrick's Day parade 1 / 7 Back to Gallery
BOSTON (AP) — Thousands of people dressed in green swarmed the streets of Boston on Sunday to see the 117th annual St. Patrick's Day parade.
The parade route was shortened this year due to last week's nor'easter, The Boston Globe reported. The snow did not diminish the turnout or dim the enthusiasm of the paradegoers as they also faced temperatures in the low 30s.
A man from a local radio station held a giant cutout of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady as people in the crowd cheered wildly. Children plugged their ears as muskets fired.
South Boston resident Marcella Sliney, whose parents originally are from Ireland, said she felt a special sense of pride while watching the festivities and supporting her LGBTQ veteran friends.
Sliney, 50, said she was happy to see the gay veterans group OutVets once again marching in this year's parade.
"This is why I am so passionate about respecting the rights of others and making sure that we respect diversity and love of all," she said.
OutVets began marching four years ago, but was enmeshed in controversy anew in 2017 when parade organizers denied it access because of a rainbow in its logo. A public backlash prompted the organizing group to reverse that decision.
The parade was hosted by the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council, and draws between 600,000 and 1 million people each year.
Democratic Mayor Martin Walsh marched after speaking at the city's annual St. Patrick's Day breakfast .