Mike Grillo has long been the man in the tricorn hat at Westchester County's Revolutionary War events. On Saturday, July 11, the Eastchester resident will lead his hometown's America's Birthday Parade as co-Grand Marshal, days after the New York Times featured him in an interactive opinion piece.
The Times published "13 George Washington Interpreters on Embodying an Icon" on Wednesday, July 2, profiling Grillo alongside 12 other men who portray the first president at events nationwide. The piece, photographed by Martin Schoeller, ran in the Opinion section as part of the paper's coverage of the national semiquincentennial.
The Eastchester Historical Society, where Grillo serves on the board, congratulated him on Tuesday, July 8, calling him "our most famous Board Member" and noting he "is more than deserving of this honor as he has been reenacting George Washington for so many years."
Grillo works as a historical interpreter at St. Paul's Church National Historic Site in Mount Vernon, where he brings Revolutionary War history to life for school groups and visitors. He doesn't limit himself to Washington. At Rockefeller State Park Preserve events earlier in 2026, he portrayed a Westchester County militiaman who left his tailoring trade to join the fight in June 1775. His wife, Maria Grillo, reenacts as Martha Washington, and the couple appeared together at a tribute ceremony at Cedar Grove Cemetery on Long Island in April 2026.
The Town of Eastchester named Grillo and the late Richard "Dick" Forliano as co-Grand Marshals for Saturday's parade, according to an official town post on Monday, June 16. Kathy Gerber will represent Forliano at the event. A Sash Ceremony for both honorees took place at Eastchester Town Hall that evening at 7 p.m.
Parade details
- Saturday, July 11: America's Birthday Parade steps off at 11 a.m. from Immaculate Conception School, Eastchester, ending at Lake Isle Country Club. The parade marks the nation's 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
- Saturday, July 11, noon–4 p.m.: Post-parade celebration at Lake Isle Country Club, featuring barbecue, live music, and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
