Long Island Nurse To Lead NYC's 'Hometown Heroes' Parade

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Sandra Lindsay — the Port Washington nurse who received the first COVID-19 vaccine in America — will be the grand marshal of Wednesday's "Hometown Heroes" parade in Manhattan.

The parade will depart at 11 a.m. from Battery Park, and honor all the essential workers who brought New York City through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release. It will feature 14 different floats, making it one of the largest ticker-tape parades in the city's history.

Lindsay is the director of critical care at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in Queens. The Northwell nurse and Port Washington resident became the first American to receive the COVID-19 vaccine in December 2020.

"It is truly an honor and privilege to serve as the grand marshal in the Hometown Heroes ticker-tape parade and represent all health care and essential workers whose heroic efforts saved lives during the COVID-19 pandemic," Lindsay said.

New York City was the epicenter of the pandemic in the spring of 2020. The virus burned through entire neighborhoods, overwhelmed hospitals, and strained funeral homes past capacity.

According to official public health data, the city has registered more than 788,500 cases of COVID-19 and 28,300 deaths related to the virus since February 2020.

"New Yorkers from every corner of our city answered the call when we needed them most and showed the world what it means to be a Hometown Hero," said Daniele Baierlein and Jorge Luis Paniagua Valle, co-executive Directors of the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. "They healed us when we were sick, fed us when we were hungry, and ensured that our city's essential services kept pace even during the toughest days of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are grateful for their selfless dedication and are proud to thank them alongside every New Yorker at the Hometown Heroes parade. There's no stopping New York!"

"Good Morning America" co-anchor Robin Roberts will host a ceremony in City Hall Park at the parade's conclusion. The ceremony will feature a performance from the Northwell Health Nurse Choir, recently featured on "America's Got Talent."