The Lunar New Year Rolling Parade rolled into Somerville last Sunday in celebration of the 4722nd Lunar New Year. ~Photos by Bobbie Toner

On Sunday, March 3, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne joined leaders and members of the Boston, Belmont, Cambridge, and Malden communities to celebrate the fourth Lunar New Year Rolling Parade which kicked off at the Lions Gate in Chinatown Boston at noon.

February 1 was the start of the 4722nd Lunar New Year and Black History Month. The Korean-American Citizens League of New England, Chinese American Citizens Alliance Boston Lodge and the Chinese American Heritage Foundation with the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community honored the 2024 Parade Grand Marshal Brigadier General Joseph Milano for his dedication to our country and his efforts to build bridges and improve the lives of Asian Americans in the United States.

Those selected to assist Honorary Consul General Milano included Boston Parade Marshal Commissioner Robert Santiago, Belmont Parade Marshal Select Board Member Roy Epstein, Somerville Parade Marshal City Councilor Will Mbah, and Malden Parade Marshal Mayor Gary Christenson.

Santiago, Epstein, Mbah, and Christenson were honored for building inclusive, welcoming, and equitable spaces for the AAPI community. The Marshals blessed the first responders serving our cities and towns with an offering of prosperity, good health and good fortune.

The festivities continued at the Somerville City Hall concourse with performance and presentations, with State Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven also in attendance.

The organizers remain in solidarity with the African American community and are thankful for the continued support and help from our allies including the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts and the Eastern Regional Commission on the Status of Women.