Shame On Parade Heads
To The Editor:

[At] this year's St. Patrick's Day parade, the FDNY was moved from the front where they have been for many years. I find it appalling the way our Bravest are being treated by John Dunleavy and his St. Patrick's Parade Committee. The reason given was that the FDNY held up the parade last year because of its support of the New Orleans' firefighters, who marched in thanks to New York for its help during Hurricane Katrina and took time to unfurl their banner. This took an extra 35 minutes. Well, who cares? Then there is the other reason, which is the accusation that there is a great deal of drunkeness by firefighters and that I find an insult.

The FDNY members put their lives on the line every time they go to a fire, and furthermore I think that the parade committee has forgotten the 343 who lost their lives on 9/11 trying to save others.

What this committee has done is totally disrespectful, and they all should be ashamed. Frederick R. Bedell Jr. Bellerose