Marchers step off along Prospect Park West during the 119th annual Brooklyn Independence Day Parade in Park Slope on Sunday.
Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
Patriotism was on parade in Park Slope on Sunday as marchers, color guards and Revolutionary War reenactors took to the streets for the 119th annual Brooklyn Independence Day Parade.
The celebration began at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 245 Prospect Park West, where attendees gathered for an 11 a.m. Mass followed by a presentation of honors before the parade got underway around noon.
Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree, the annual parade celebrates patriotism, liberty and community — values rooted in the organization’s mission of “Pietas,” or love of God, love of country and love of neighbors.
Officials lay a red, white and blue wreath outside American Legion Michael Rawley in Gowanus ahead of the parade, honoring fallen service members at the historic site tied to the Battle of Brooklyn and the Maryland 400.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
This year’s march took on added meaning as communities across the country prepare to mark America250, the nationwide commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary, while for organizers the day also served as a reminder that keeping the century-old Brooklyn tradition alive is as much the point as the celebration itself.
“The committee members and myself and others that are involved with the parade feel it’s very important to keep the legacy of the parade alive,” Ted General, a member of the Brooklyn American Independence Day Parade Committee, told Brooklyn Paper ahead of the march. “As well, the Knights of Columbus have a patriotic wing, called their Fourth Degree, and one of the things that they are encouraged to do is to promote patriotism and Americanism.”
Founded in 1905, the Brooklyn Independence Day Parade is recognized as New York City’s oldest continuously running Independence Day parade and is typically the city’s only annual parade dedicated to the holiday.
Spectators line up near the start of the route.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta 
Veterans gathered curbside salute in recognition of the parade’s patriotic procession.Photo by Arthur de Gaeta
While it was originally held on July 4 itself, organizers shifted the event to the Sunday before Independence Day in recent years — the only major change to the tradition over its more than century-long history. The route has also evolved over time, with the parade previously calling Sunset Park home. This year, festivities began at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 245 Prospect Park West, with Mass and ceremonies at 11 a.m., followed by a 11:30 a.m. step-off north on Prospect Park West to 9th Street, then west on Ninth Street to Fourth Avenue.
The parade once again featured the NYPD Ceremonial Color Guard and FDNY Color Guard, along with marching bands, American Revolution-era reenactors, vintage automobiles and a variety of community organizations.
Additional reporting by Barbara Vasquez