Grand Marshal Valcich Honored at Luncheon

The Montauk Friends of Erin hosted a luncheon on Friday to honor Mickey Valcich, of the hamlet's . The luncheon, held at Gurney's Inn in Montauk, is the official startoff of a weekend of festivities, including a cocktail party on Saturday evening and the parade, .

"It's going to be the greatest thing you ever do in your whole life," said Joan Lycke, the outgoing 2011 Grand Marshall, to Mr. Valcich. "When you turn that corner at the post office and look up the street, the only thing that matches it is going up 5th avenue -- it's breathtaking."

In a ceremony led notable local John Behan, a former state assemblyman who served as Grand Marshal in 1979, past Grand Marshals feted Valcich with speeches, applause, and occasional ribbing.

At the post parade bar crawl that the Grand Marshal and Friends of Erin are obliged to participate in, "You'll all probably be on the back of a dump truck," jibed Mr. Behan, making reference to Mr. Valcich's refuse removal business, .

Kelly White, whose in-laws both served as Grand Marshals, described Mr. Valcich as protective, honest, and "chivalrous, in both gesture and words."

Frances Ecker, another former Marshal, remembered that her late husband, former Marshal Eddie Ecker Sr., was particularly fond of Mr. Valcich. "Mickey is someone Eddie thought the world of," she said. Whenever someone spoke of him, he would say, "that guy is top notch."

The Grand Marshal's luncheon was started with help from Mr. Behan in 1989. It has grown from a small group of 15 participants to a gala that packs out the entire banquet hall at Gurney's.

According to Mr. Behan, "we started this luncheon 23 years ago. It was just my thought that the Grand Marshal deserves to have some special honor, and to share it with his family."