NY Mets bring annual tradition back to Citi Field
On May 27, the New York Mets brought back a yearly tradition, which has been absent for the past 16 years: Banner Day. From 1963 to 1996, Banner Day was an annual tradition, beginning with a parade and ending with three finalists chosen from the pack. There would only be one winner.
This year, Hicksville High School seniors Amy Perfetti and Julie Scarpitta were finalists of Banner Day, which included over 300 elaborately made banners. Their banner, which had Mets’ Manager Terry Collins depicted as the sun over a flowerbed of “homegrown” flowers (each of the current team members) was featured on the New York Mets website as well as on Twitter and Facebook. The third finalist had a brightly colored banner, which read, “Follow the CitiBrick Road.”
First place this year went to two cousins from Bensonhurst. Working all night, the cousins chose Mike Piazza’s memorable home run during the first baseball game after the 9/11 attack on New York City as their theme. The cousins received tickets to spring training.
Although Hicksville’s “homegrown” flowers, Amy and Julie, did not win first place, they were awarded T-shirts for the commemoration of “50 Fabulous” years of the Mets organization. Amy and Julie will be attending St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA. this fall. The community wishes them all the best as they begin this new path of their journey and congratulates them on a terrific effort and a job well done.
