Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announces awards

The Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee has announced that the Northeast Judging Association selected the organizations for an award based on their appearance in the 2012 Greater New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade. An award ceremony, with the Knights of St. Patrick acting as hosts, will be held with presentation of a plaque from the Parade Committee, organizer said in a statement. The ceremony will be held at the KOSP Club, 1533 State St., at a date to be determined, the statement said.

Read more about the parade here

The awards go to:

Grand Marshal’s Award: James Hillhouse Marching Band and JROTC & Honor Security Color Guard

Best fire department marching unit: New Haven Fire Department Local 825 and New Haven County Emerald Society Color Guard

Best fire department color guard: NHFD American Legion Post 132

Best police department marching unit: New Haven Police Department and Connecticut State Police

Best police department color guard: Bridgeport Police Department Honor Guard and Stratford Police Department

Best volunteer fire color guard: Charters Hose Co. #4 Volunteer Fire Department - Ansonia; and M. P. Rice Hose Co. 2

Best volunteer fire department: Hilltop Hose Co. #5, Ansonia

Best appearance military - junior group: Marine Cadets of America Co. A, 1st Battalion and U.S. Naval Sea Cadets Edson Division, New Haven

Best appearance military color guard: U.S. States Coast Guard Academy

Best middle school musical group: Edgewood Magnet School Band and Mauro Sheridan Interdistrict Magnet School Band

Best high school band: Bristol Eastern High School Band and Terryville High School Marching Band

Best fife & drum seniors: Connecticut Patriots Senior Ancient Fife and Drum Corps and Stony Creek Fife & Drum Corps

Best fife & drum juniors: Deep River Junior Ancient Fife and Drum Corps and Col. John Chester Fife and Drum Corps

Best pipe band: Manchester Regional Police and Fire Pipe Band; Fairfield Gaelic Pipe Band and Connecticut Firefighters Pipe and Drums

Best senior drum & bugle: St. Peter’s Drum Corps, Torrington; and Connecticut Alumni Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps

Best Irish organization: Pioneers of the Sacred Heart and New Haven Gaelic Football & Hurling Club Flags

Best overall unit: Connecticut Hurricanes Sr. Drum & Bugle Corps; and 501st CT Garrison

Best youth marching unit: Reaching for the Stars Dance Troupe

Editor's note: All information and the photo in this post were contributed.