Hundreds turn out to celebrate Puerto Rican / Hispanic Day parade

Hundreds turned out to celebrate the cultures of Puerto Rico and its Latin American neighbors Sunday at the 44th annual Puerto Rican/Hispanic Day Parade in Brentwood.

Fifth Avenue throbbed with the blaring horns of classic 1970s-era salsa and a contemporary rendition of a traditional Puerto Rican musical form known as the décima by artist Juan Carlos: "I represent my flag, from Puerto Rico, and I do so with pride," he sang from one of the floats that coasted down the avenue.

Spectators cooled off with mango and coconut ice cream hawked by streetcart vendors as marching bands and dance troupes performed and community leaders waved.

"I'm here representing my people . . . living the dream of a young man whose parents came from Puerto Rico," said the grand marshal, Luis Medina, executive director of the Suffolk County Youth Board. Medina dedicated his career as a social worker to engaging with young people, he said.

Nearly 80,000 Puerto Ricans live in Nassau and Suffolk counties, according to the 2006-08 Census Bureau estimates.

Since the 1950s, when Brentwood became a gateway community for Puerto Ricans, thousands of immigrants from El Salvador, the Dominican Republic and other Spanish-speaking countries have made the hamlet their home, too.

Their influence was felt at the parade as well, in the familiar trill of the Dominican bachata rhythm pumping from car speakers and in the Peruvian contingent clad in indigenous dress, among others.

Civic groups and law enforcement officials marched for Hispanic solidarity and for the theme of the year's parade, "Achieving the Dream." The parade was sponsored by the nonprofit Adelante of Suffolk County.

Elected officials in the parade included Assemb. Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood), Legis. Ricardo Montano (D-Brentwood) and Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), as well as Eric Dinallo of Manhattan, a Democratic candidate for state attorney general.