1199SEIU President George Gresham has been named the International Grand Marshal of this year’s National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

The parade is one of New York City’s premier cultural events, drawing millions of spectators and revelers. This year, the June 9 parade celebrates the theme of healthcare.

The announcement was made at a March 21 press conference at the headquarters of the Union General de Trabajadores (UGT) in Rio Piedras, PR.

Gresham will be the parade’s first African American Grand Marshal and, along with UGT President Manuel Perfecto, who was named the parade’s Padrino, will lead a procession of tens of thousands of participants down Fifth Avenue.

More information about the parade and associated events will be announced in the coming weeks.