A smile from Officer Brunson

Fans gather early in lower Manhattan on Thursday morning, hours before the parade. Credit: Newsday/Joshua Solomon
The pre-sunrise subway commute has a blend of work boots and neon shirts with Nikes and Knicks gear.
On an A train heading to Fulton Street just before 5 a.m., a family of three wears matching Knicks championship hats. The son’s feet — dressed in the same orange Nikes as his father — dangle off the subway seat. “Is this our stop?” the son says earnestly. The dad shakes his head.
A police officer briefly rode aboard the A train. Her badge showed a name that will be worn on many backs today: Brunson.
“Brunson’s a good last name to have right now,” a reporter acknowledges.
“Yes, right,” Officer Brunson says with a big smile before exiting the subway car.
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