Multitudes of people usually line Fifth Avenue for New York's St. Patrick's Day parade, which traces its roots to the 1760s. AP Photo NEW YORK: A largely virtual St. Patrick's Day was planned for New York City on Wednesday, one year after the annual parade celebrating Irish heritage became one of the city's first coronavirus casualties. Although the city's usual huge parade with floats and marching bands was canceled, Mayor Bill de Blasio joined parade leaders and several dozen National Guard troops in marching up Madison Avenue early Wednesday morning to keep the tradition alive. A live broadcast of the St. Patrick's Day Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral took place. A virtual parade featuring clips of marching groups from past years was to follow at 10 am, according to the parade organizers' website, and an hour-long show streaming on Facebook at 11 am included performances by singers Andy Cooney and Moya Brennan.