Norwegian Day Parade sails up Third Avenue

Norwegians in Bay Ridge celebrated Constitution Day on Sunday, May 20th

“The gorgeous weather added to the success of the parade,” said parade Chairperson Arlene Rutuelo. “We had more people participating and watching than we probably had in more than 10 years.”

Rutuelo gives credit for this year’s 60th anniversary a success to the reach of social media, including their Facebook page called “Brooklyn Norwegians on Facebook.” The page encouraged its 1,200 followers to participate.

The parade – which was held on Third Avenue for the first time this year, after many years on Fifth Avenue – concluded in Leif Ericson Park.

Ty Pennington, host of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, was among the participants, as well as local officials such as Borough President Marty Markowitz. Miss Norway 2012, Amanda Berntsen, was another star of the parade.

This year’s theme “Honoring Norwegian Women,” especially commemorated the life of Grete Waitz, a Norwegian New York City Marathon winner, who co-founded Active Against Cancer before losing her long battle with the illness last year.

“There are so many strong Norwegian women both in Norway and here,” said Rutuelo. “Grete was a remarkable woman of incredible strength and she captivated the hearts of New Yorkers.”

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