Kathy Stewart, wtop.com

WASHINGTON – The 42nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Washington is known as the Nation’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and this year’s theme is “Celebrating Service to the Stars and Stripes.”

This year’s grand marshal of the parade is the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, retired Adm. Mike Mullen. Local Olympic Gold Medalist Katie Ledecky of Bethesda, Md., is also one the parade’s division marshals, as well as celebrating her Sweet 16 birthday.

The two-and-a-half-hour event features more than 100 marching bands, floats, military units, other local organizations and of course troops of Irish dancers.

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