LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the Centennial Celebration of the
Anniversary Day Parade in Ridgewood, New York, on June 5, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend events which honor those enduring religious institutions of this
Empire State that have contributed to the ethical and spiritual values
of their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the Centennial Celebration of the Anniversary Day Parade in Ridge-
wood, New York, on Friday, June 5, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Wayne Vandermark of the Ridgewood-Glendale Sunday School
Association will proudly serve as the 2009 Parade Marshal; and
WHEREAS, Anniversary Day, also known as Brooklyn-Queens Day, is
observed on the first Thursday in June, celebrating the 1816 opening of
the first Sunday schools on Long Island; and
WHEREAS, The Anniversary Day parade grew out of the Rally Day parades
in Brooklyn that date back to the early 1800s and have become known for
their decorated floats and banners with religious themes; and
WHEREAS, In 1905, the New York State Legislature passed a law that
made Anniversary Day -- the Thursday immediately following the first
Monday in June -- a legal holiday for Brooklyn's public schools; 54
years later, the holiday was officially extended by law to Queens, so
that students from the borough could participate as well; and
WHEREAS, Ridgewood, New York, held its inaugural Anniversary Day
parade in 1910; and
WHEREAS, At one time, Anniversary Day was regarded as being as much a
holiday for children as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Washington's Birthday
or the Fourth of July; and
WHEREAS, Youngsters would dress up for the occasion, with its much-an-
ticipated march that featured banners, flags and floats decorated in
keeping with the Sunday schools' theme; at parade's end, the children
would head to their respective churches for ice cream and cake; and
WHEREAS, Accounts of past Anniversary Day attendance are staggering;
on June 5, 1959, the NEW YORK TIMES reported 150,000 marchers in the
Brooklyn Sunday School Union's parade and 25,000 paraders in Queens; and
WHEREAS, In the past, participating churches were grouped by division
and each division had a route with its own starting point; and
WHEREAS, For a Brooklyn parade in 1899, there were 20 divisions that
ultimately formed two columns, facilitating a march up Bedford Avenue;
at Flushing Avenue, a "countermarch" was performed before dismissal at
Bedford and Division Avenues; and
WHEREAS, For the Ridgewood parade held on Thursday, June 6, 1929, by
the Ridgewood Sunday School Union, a program lists two sections, each of
which had its own starting point; and
WHEREAS, For a time in recent years, the Ridgewood parade took place
on Fresh Pond Road in the vicinity of Catalpa Avenue; when there were
two divisions, they would meet and proceed to march -- moving north,
south and back again -- around the street for a brief time before
concluding the parade; and
WHEREAS, However, last year, the parade returned to its "grassroots"
by changing the route to an east-west one; as a result, the marchers
assembled at Fresh Pond Road and Catalpa Avenue; following the starting
ceremony, they headed west along Catalpa Avenue to Onderdonk Avenue
before returning to the starting point; and
WHEREAS, The list of last year's participating churches, schools and
organizations included: The Catalpa Avenue YMCA; Glendale Reformed

Church; Redeemer Lutheran School in Glendale; Ridgewood Presbyterian
Church; St. John's United Methodist Church in Ridgewood; St. Mark's
United Church of Christ in Ridgewood; Salvation Army Ridgewood Corps;
Trinity Lutheran Church; Trinity Reformed Church in Ridgewood; Trinity-
St. Andrew's Lutheran Church in Maspeth; United Methodist Church of
Glendale; and United Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood; and
WHEREAS, This year's parade route will remain the same as last year,
with participants heading west on Catalpa Avenue from Fresh Pond Road to
Onderdonk Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The Anniversary Day Parade is truly a unique, religious cele-
bration that has brought recognition to Ridgewood, but more importantly,
encouraged many to attend a local Sunday School and church; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when events of
such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they
should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the great
State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the Centennial Celebration of the Anniversary Day Parade in
Ridgewood, New York, on June 5, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Wayne Vandermark, Parade Marshal, as well as the aforemen-
tioned participating churches, schools and organizations.