Contact: Colleen Roche/Jack Deacy (212) 788-2958
"Discovery's recent flight into space with 77-year-old John Glenn aboard as part of the crew demonstrated that there are new and exciting frontiers opening up for older Americans," Mayor Giuliani said. "New Yorkers cheered when Discovery lifted off and set down and this Monday they will give the crew a Ticker Tape Parade up the Canyon of Heroes, the greatest welcome that heroes can receive on the Planet Earth.
"This occasion will also give us a chance to welcome back John Glenn, a true American hero, back to New York City," the Mayor added. "The first time the City honored him with a Ticker Tape Parade was on March 1, 1962, just nine days after he rode his Friendship 7 capsule into Space to become the first American ever to orbit the Earth. Thirty six years later we look forward to welcoming him back surrounded by his Discovery crewmates."
The Mayor will also present each of the seven members of the crew with the Key to the City. The day will begin with a breakfast for the Discovery crew members at the Museum of Natural History. The Ticker Tape Parade will begin at 11 am at Hanover Square on Lower Broadway and proceed up Broadway to City Hall.
This will be New York City's third Ticker Tape celebration this year. On Saturday, October 17th Home Run King Sammy Sosa, who hit 66 home runs with the Chicago Cubs this season, was honored by New York City and less than a week later, on Friday, September 23rd, the City welcomed home their World Champion New York Yankees.
The tradition of the Ticker Tape Parade dates back to at least 1886 when the City held one on October 29th as part of the dedication of the Statue of Liberty. The City has held at least 166 Ticker Tape Parades to honor heroes like aviator Charles Lindbergh in 1927, aviator Amelia Earhardt in 1932, Winston Churchill in 1946, General Douglas MacArthur in 1951, Charles de Gaulle in 1960, tennis great Althea Gibson in 1957, the Apollo 8 astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin and Collins in 1969, Pope John Paul II in 1979, Vietnam Veterans in 1985, Nelson Mandela in 1990, and several U.S. Presidents, Kings, Queens, foreign leaders, U.S. Olympic champions, New York City sports teams and returning veterans from several wars.