Following the pandemic introduced a lot more than a yr of hardship for New York City’s important workers, Wednesday marked a instant of celebration: Hundreds of nurses and health and fitness treatment staff, transit and sanitation employees, cooks and educators marched in the sweltering warmth in a parade in Manhattan, as streams of confetti poured down and crowds cheered.

The route, which ran along Broadway from Battery Park in Lessen Manhattan north to City Corridor, followed the path of the so-called Canyon of Heroes, where by earlier parades have honored anyone from astronauts to presidents to championship athletics teams. The celebration was for individuals who saved the city functioning even as several citizens sheltered at dwelling.

“At the height of the pandemic, when the city felt apocalyptic, we ended up going 100,000 meals a day,” claimed Grace Ramirez, 41, a chef with Environment Central Kitchen, a nonprofit that helped dining places feed medical center employees during the pandemic. Ms. Ramirez reported it was “beyond an honor” to march in the parade with her colleagues.

“I feel that this marks, like, ‘OK, we’re obtaining by it,’” she claimed.

The parade was promoted for weeks by Mayor Monthly bill de Blasio, who on Wednesday rode on a float with wellness treatment workers and shook palms with onlookers.

“New York Metropolis collected in celebration of all the vital workers who got our neighborhood by way of its darkest times,” claimed Mitch Schwartz, a spokesman for Mr. de Blasio. “It was the kickoff the