Maya McFadden Photos
Covid-19 survivors and the seniors of Mary Wade Home celebrated Fair Haven’s 12th annual community parade on Friday with city staff and neighbors.
The residents of Mary Wade joined the annual celebration on Clinton Avenue while wearing a mask and sitting six feet away from one another. City staff, Fair Haven residents, and Mary Wade families drove by the seniors twice for the parade.
The paradees showed their appreciation for Mary Wade’s frontline workers and resilient residents while also celebrating Older Americans Month and Memorial Day.
“We’re honoring today the greatest generation that our American soil has ever known,” said Mary Wade CEO David Hunter.
The Fair Haven-Mary Wade tradition began in 2008 when it became evident that many of the center’s residents were unable to attend local parades because of their health conditions.
Since the pandemic, 20 Mary Wade residents have died from Covid-19, said Mary Wade Executive Director Stan DeCosta
Among the residents watching the parade was a 101-year-old Covid-19 survivor.
Local and state politicians thanked the Mary Wade residents and staff for their bravery throughout the pandemic.
“Our numbers are going down. People are recovering, or as I call it, ‘graduating,’” said Hunter.
NHI's articles on Mary Wade have been sympathetic cheerleading, while its articles on Regal have been consistently critical. Why? Both homes have struggled with infection control and getting sufficient PPE (as has YNHH and every health care facility), and Mary Wade's mortality rate is far, far worse than Regal's.