Senator Mattera Proudly Serves as Grand Marshal of the St. James St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Senator Mario R. Mattera (2^nd Senate District) was proud to serve as the Grand Marshal of the St. James St. Patrick’s Day parade held this past Saturday.  Senator Mattera celebrated the special day with co-Grand Marshal Kerry Reilly-Dejesus, an active volunteer who has helped many in the community with her work in the Smithtown school district and at Saints Philip and James R.C. Church.

The pair were actually selected to serve as Grand Marshals back in 2020 but the parade was postponed for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sponsored by the St. James Chamber of Commerce, the special event brought together a thousand residents who lined Lake Avenue, many of whom were clad in their green clothes and flags to celebrate their Irish heritage and the St. James community.

“Thank you to the St. James Chamber of Commerce as well as all the residents and businesses who joined together to celebrate this wonderful event.  It is such an honor to be a part of this event as a Grand Marshal in my hometown parade with Kerry.  It was exciting to get back to holding this special parade and I was so grateful to see everyone’s smiling faces again,” said Senator Mattera.