Updated 3:24 p.m. E.T.
The city of New York honored Covid-19 first responders with a ticker-tape parade on Wednesday.
The Hometown Heroes parade took place along the celebrated Canyon of Heroes in downtown Manhattan. CBS New York reports that the parade included 2,500 participants. Sarah Lindsay, who was the first person in the U.S. to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, served as grand marshal.
“I am so grateful. It feels like we’re getting a big hug all over again from the entire city,” the Queens nurse said.
In addition to medical workers, the parade also included workers from other sectors, including child care, transportation, food, utilities and others who continued to work with the public during the pandemic.
“In our darkest moment, they gave their all to keep our city running and protect their fellow New Yorkers,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement on Twitter.
The parade kicked off at 11 a.m. E.T. and streamed live on CBS News.
