Grand Concourse in the Bronx will host the 20th annual Dominican Parade today.
The parade, which celebrates the culture the Dominican Republic and the city’s large Dominican population, will start at 1:30 p.m. at East Tremont Avenue towards 167th Street.
Organizers estimate the parade will consist of about 20,000 marchers and 40 floats.
City and state officials, including Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., Senator Charles Schumer and City Comptroller and mayoral candidate William Thompson are expected to walk with the parade.
Dominican Republic Flag Description:
A centered white cross that extends to the edges divides the flag into four rectangles – the top ones are blue (hoist side) and red, and the bottom ones are red (hoist side) and blue; a small coat of arms featuring a shield supported by an olive branch (left) and a palm branch (right) is at the center of the cross; above the shield a blue ribbon displays the motto, DIOS, PATRIA, LIBERTAD (God, Fatherland, Liberty), and below the shield, REPUBLICA DOMINICANA appears on a red ribbon.
The blue on the flag stands for liberty; the white on the flag stands for salvation; the red on the flag stands for the blood of heroes.
The civil ensign follows the same design, but without the charge in the center. The flag was designed by the leader of the Trinitarians. He altered the layout of the blue and red of the Haitian flag, placing a large white cross over it to symbolize faith. To create distinct flags for state and civil use, the coat of arms, adopted in 1844, was placed on the state flag. The civil flag, on both land and sea, does not carry the coat of arms. The arms depicts a Bible open at the first chapter of St. John’s Gospel. This is placed on a trophy of national flags, on a shield of the same design. The password of the Tritarian movement- Dios, Patria, Libertad (“God, Country, Freedom”) is on the upper blue scroll. The lower red scroll contains the state title Republica Dominicana (“Dominican Republic”).
