NEW YORK, NY  — June 1, 2014 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Celebrate Israel Parade, one of the largest parades in New York City.  To mark the occasion, the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York (JCRC-NY) is putting out an “all call” for past parade participants to submit photos from previous years’ parades that will help tell its rich history.

JCRC-NY has created a website, http://celebrate50.org/, where people with past parade photos can upload or email them to JCRC-NY at submit@celebrate50.org. Participants who submit photos are automatically entered into a random drawing to win a spot on a float for two people during the 50th Anniversary Parade. JCRC-NY has already collected photos of attendees from past parades including images of Mayors Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani, Senator Alfonse D’Amato, Congressman Charles Rangel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, current Israeli President and former Prime Minister Shimon Peres and more.

On Sunday, June 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fifth Avenue will turn blue and white as more than 30 floats with musical performers, 15 marching bands and 35,000 marchers entertain hundreds of thousands of spectators for the largest celebration of Israel in the world. For the first time, the parade will feature the Israeli non-profit organization SpaceIL and the US IL Flying Club, who will participate in a flyover saluting the parade.

“The old saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ couldn’t be truer as we honor the golden anniversary of the Celebrate Israel Parade this year,” said JCRC-NY Executive Vice President and CEO Michael Miller. “We encourage the community to participate in the contest and especially hope to get photos from the first parade in 1964 as we aim to tell the story of the parade’s rich history.”

Photo submission is ongoing; however, to be entered into the contest, participants must submit their photos by May 1. For more information visit http://celebrate50.org/. Follow the parade on Twitter @celebrateisrael or visit our Facebook page: Celebrate Israel Parade for the most up-to-date information.