By Paul Lomax and Tom Liddy
DNAinfo Reporters
MANHATTAN — The skies may have been gray Sunday, but Fifth Avenue was awash in blue and white.
Greek pride was on display on the Upper East Side as Hellenophiles from all walks of life took to the streets to celebrate the ancient culture.
The Greek Independence Day Parade, which ran from 64th to 79th Street, celebrated Greece's 191st year of freedom.
The grand marshal for the festivities was New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez and featured marching band performances and beauty queens.
"I've been coming to this parade since I was a kid," said Yannis Silligos, 32, from Astoria, Queens. "I love it! It's a great day for us Greeks."
The theme of this year's parade was solidarity with Greece, which has been undergoing severe economic turmoil.
"This is so much fun. Considering what's been happening in my country recently, today's parade is really special," said Nicholas Demetrios, 22. "It means a lot to everyone to enjoy today and not to think about all the problems back home."
