Onlookers waving the blue and white flag of Israel watched Sunday as Jewish cultural and civic organizations made their way up Fifth Avenue in New York City for the annual Celebrate Israel parade.

Elected officials including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio were also among the marchers and bands that came out under sunny skies for the event.

Some Israeli officials, including the country’s ambassador to the United Nations, were also on the list of participants.

The parade, formerly known as the Salute to Israel parade, honors that nation’s founding and what Israel has accomplished in the past seven decades. The theme for 2019, its 55th anniversary, was “Only in Israel.”

The thousands of marchers making their way up the parade route included young people from schools around the region as well as a range of musical performers. Community groups also took part.

The grand marshall was Edward Merlmelstein, president of ZAKA Search and Rescue USA, which is a part of ZAKA, an Israeli rescue and recovery organization.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of New York organizes the parade.

NYC Mayor @BilldeBlasio marching in the Celebrate Israel parade #TogetheronFifth pic.twitter.com/oHXsohLooM

— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) June 2, 2019

https://twitter.com/jdgreenblatt45/status/1135216417991798793

5th Avenue from East 42nd Street to East 59th Street will be closed to vehicles beginning at 10:00am TODAY, Sunday June 2 for the #CelebrateIsrael Parade, which kicks off at 11am.

Pedestrian Crossings during the parade are located at:

🚸 East 59th Street
🚸 East 59th Street pic.twitter.com/576ZnmQntT

— NYPD Midtown North (@NYPDMTN) June 2, 2019

#NYPD Mounted marches up 5th Avenue today as they lead the #CelebrateIsrael Parade . #TogetherOnFifth@NYPDSpecialops pic.twitter.com/UBptUcyYzG

— NYPD Patrol Borough Manhattan North (@NYPDPBMN) June 2, 2019

The Mayor is back from his campaign swing through South Carolina got #CelebrateIsrael parade. Unfortunately we couldn’t ask him how it went… pic.twitter.com/MtaYUCoplQ

— Stacey Delikat (@StaceyDelikat) June 2, 2019

https://twitter.com/NYPDCentralPark/status/1135215106269294593

Its Parade time!! #celebrateisrael pic.twitter.com/quJpolYsn3

— Andy King (@AndyKingNYC) June 2, 2019

Trump 2020 at @CelebrateIsrael parade pic.twitter.com/MofQIx4WA7

— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) June 2, 2019

Getting ready to start marching in the #CelebrateIsrael down 5th Avenue in about 30 minutes. The car is ready to go! Great job by Josh and Heshy Augenbaum! ⁦@bernieandsid⁩ ⁦@77WABCradio⁩ #Sidizens pic.twitter.com/cM2Q59MXxT

— Sid Rosenberg (@sidrosenberg) June 2, 2019

Right now: @NYGovCuomo giving strong pro-Israel remarks and comments against anti-Semitism at annual #CelebrateIsrael Parade pic.twitter.com/eIHI9PRorz

— Michael Snow (@Michael_Sn0w) June 2, 2019

Proud to walk #TogetherOnFifth with @NYGovCuomo to #CelebrateIsrael pic.twitter.com/JjIuUGDXqh

— S Kadinsky (@SergeyKadinsky) June 2, 2019

#NYPD #Mounted leads the #CelebrateIsrael parade up 5th Avenue as ESU #K9 Freedom and the Strategic Response Group Bike Unit provide security for parade goers. #NYPDprotecting pic.twitter.com/rA8Ewhci62

— NYPD Special Ops (@NYPDSpecialops) June 2, 2019

Here at the #CelebrateIsrael parade with @BDHegt, come out and join the fun! #CelebrateIsraelparade pic.twitter.com/4Dw8qEJ08w

— Ben Kallos, Former NYC Council Member (@BenKallos) June 2, 2019

https://twitter.com/NYPDCentralPark/status/1135215106269294593

(AP / YWN World headquarters – NYC)