As we celebrate the Dominican Parade...

Every year around this time I remember my father who was taken from us much to early in an automobile accident. I miss him and think about him all the time. I am grateful for all lessons he taught me especially the ones without trying, just by being who he was. I think about him more around the time of the Dominican Parade because the parade was one of the greatest lessons I learned.

When I was a young girl I would tag along with my father on his adventures, but this particular adventure was overwhelming exciting. The founding of “The Dominican Parade and Festival”! I remember being with my dad when he would tell people “we are going to have a parade, a Dominican parade and I need your help to organize it” and time and time again people would laugh at, make fun of, and many times call him crazy. “You’re crazy that’s never going to happen, Dominicans will never have a parade here in New York”, I can still hear the voices.

Here comes the lesson, never did I see my father surrender, give up, answer back, or stand down. He would just reply ok, see you at the parade and move on to the next person.

Today the Dominican Parade is one of the biggest events of New York City. The first Parade was held in Washington Heights it started on 165th street and ended on 190th street and Audubon Avenue. The first Parade was such a success and vastly attended that the next year it was move to Sixth Avenue and it’s still there till this day.

In bringing “The Dominican Parade” to fruition my father taught me that I hold the power to fulfilling my dreams, one else just me.

So this Sunday as we celebrate our Dominican heritage , waving the Dominican flag, and enjoying all the festivities that celebrate who we are, join me and lift your flag one time for My Father Miguel Amaro, the man who kept going despite all the obstacles and gave us our day!!!!!

Thank you to my mother Marina Torres, my uncle Dr. Silvio Torres - Saillant and Sócrates Tejadas for believing in the dream and standing with my father to make it happen. They are the true founders of the parade.