[StBernard] Irish Italian Islenos parade is Sunday

[Westley Annis]

Irish Italian Islenos parade is Sunday

Published: Thursday, March 29, 2012, 7:00 AM     Updated: Thursday, March
29, 2012, 10:40 AM

 By Becca Chapman 

The 11th Annual St. Bernard Irish Italian Islenos Community Parade will be
presided over by former New Orleans Saints safety Steve Gleason - an
inspiration to many - who will serve as grand marshal.

To Chad O'Neil, parade president, Gleason is a symbol of hope. O'Neil said
Gleason, who is battling ALS, represents the "don't ever give up" attitude
which is something many St. Bernard residents possess.

"To me he is a hero," O'Neil said. "I can't even imagine being in his
situation, and he is doing something about it."

The parade, set for Sunday in Chalmette, will begin near the Frederick J.
Sigur Civic Center, 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive. From there, the parade will
proceed west on Judge Perez Drive to Schnell Drive in Arabi, where it will
make a U-turn and head east toward Campagna Drive. The procession will make
another U-turn then travel west on Judge Perez Drive and disband back at the
Civic Center.

Members of the Irish/Italian Marching Club will hit the streets at 11 a.m.
to hand out kisses and their usual green and white cane flowers. At noon,
Gleason will lead the 42-float parade as he tosses more than 1,000 footballs
with the "Team Gleason" logo to spectators.

Parade T-shirts also will sport the "Team Gleason" logo.

"It's a chance to get the word out about his disease," O'Neil said.

Aside from the traditional throws of beads, cups and trinkets, O'Neil said
more than 300,000 pounds of produce - cabbages, potatoes, onions, carrots,
apples, bananas, lemons, limes, oranges and pineapples - will be thrown by
nearly 1,500 riders.

A dozen parade princesses will grace a sea of red, white and green while
more than 30 groups keep the spirit of the parade going by marching, playing
music and dancing. This year's princesses are: Marie Abba, Maggie Avenel,
Brooke Burgard, Hanna Duhon, Elizabeth Farizo, Gabby Gaillot, Kathryn Kitto,
Danielle Lee, Alyssa Lepine, Abby Molinary, Alieha Pacaccio and Brelynn
Remel.

The Animal Planet reality series "Pit Bulls and Parolees" will be filming
during the parade. Animal Planet cameras will be placed on float 40 and in
the crowd to capture footage of members of Paws in the Park, a local
nonprofit organization that raises money to help animals and coordinates the
volunteer program at Villalobos Rescue Center which is featured on the
series.

O'Neil said parade organizers will be selling parade merchandise - shirts,
cups, totes and aprons - on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the tent near
the Civic Center.

For more information, contact O'Neil at 504.655.7555 or iiiparade at cox.net.