Randolph-Macon Academy Cadets to march in NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The Randolph-Macon Academy Band and Parade Unit has marched in the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade for more than ten years. This photo was taken in 2017. Photo courtesy of R-MA.

On Friday, March 15th, the one hundred cadets of the Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA) Band and Parade Unit will awaken at 4:30 am to prepare for their annual trek north. Their destination: New York City, where they will march in the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade.

The students will depart at 6:00 am and arrive in New York in time to tour the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, before retiring to their hotel for the evening. On Saturday, March 16th, the R-MA Band and Parade Unit will have the honor of marching on Fifth Avenue in the NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, one of New York City’s greatest traditions. Held on the streets of New York since 1762, the New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is billed as the oldest and largest parade in the Western Hemisphere. The event is a true spectacle, with more than 150,000 participants marching in the parade and more than 2 million spectators lining the streets of 5th Avenue. The parade can be watched live on NBCNewYork.com beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday.

After the parade, the R-MA cadets will load the buses for their trip back to Virginia, undoubtedly with memories and stories that will last a lifetime.