Actress Rita Moreno Named 2015 Puerto Rican Day Parade Grand Marshal
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Oscar, Emmy, Grammy and Tony-award winning actress Rita Moreno has been named grand marshal of this year's Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Lorraine Cortez Vasquez chairs the board and said with about 2 million spectators and 20,000 marchers, it's the fifth largest parade in the country, 1010 WINS' Sonia Rincon reported.
"And it is a demonstration of all of our assets and our talent," Cortez Vasquez said.
Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda, of In the Heights and Hamilton, will receive an award as well.
You'll also here the music of salsa star Victor Manuelle as millions wear and wave the Puerto Rican flag. He's been selected as this year's parade king.
City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito said the parade has also become an educational experience.
"We're now at a place where we're unabashedly talking about issues that matter to unify the communities on the island and here," Mark-Viverito said.
Board member Orlando Plaza said this year they're also recognizing Puerto Rican heritage of African decent.
"In the music and education, the way we speak, and even in the way we view the world," Plaza said.
The overall theme is a recurring one, Rincon reported: "Un Pueblo, Muchas Voces" or "One Community, Many Voices."
This year's parade will march down Fifth Avenue on June 14.