PARADE PREVIEW: Dyker Heights will unfurl the red, white and blue on June 28

Celebrating America’s 238^th year of Independence, Dyker Heights will proudly host the oldest Independence Day parade in the city, the annual Brooklyn American Independence Day Parade on Saturday, June 28.

The patriotic parade – which will run along 13^th Avenue from 71^st to 86^th Street — is sponsored by Long Island Assembly of the Knights of Columbia in cooperation with the 13^th Avenue Merchants Association.

Going into its 109-year run, the parade will start at 11 a.m. This year’s parade grand marshal will be Anthony Vesco, who for the past 12 years has been a registered emergency nurse at Brooklyn’s VA Hospital, and an adjunct professor at St. John’s School of Nursing in Staten Island. He also formerly headed the Knights of Columbus in Dyker Heights.

In addition, the 2014 Pro Patria award will be presented to Louis Pepe, who headed the Long Island Assembly of the Knights of Columbus. This year’s parade chairperson is Jimmy Geritano, a Navy Vietnam veteran.

There will be a variety of bands taking part in the parade, as well as the NYPD mounted police, antique cars, Boy and Girl Scouts, and local residents. One of the highlights will be the Raising of the Giglio, a 70-foot-tall, three-ton statue carried by 130 men.

Once arriving at 86^th Street, where the Knights of Columbus Archbishop John Hughes Council is located, parade attendees will enjoy refreshments and performances by a USO Show Troupe and the Brooklyn Dance Center.