Metro

Shutdown silences West Point Marching Band

New York’s Columbus Day parade headed up Fifth Avenue Monday without its lead musicians as the government shutdown forced the West Point Marching Band to stay in place.

The historic band, made up of active-duty soldiers, had been slated to lead the city’s 69th annual Italian-American heritage parade but found out Friday that it wouldn’t be allowed.

“It is very regrettable that for reasons unrelated to their professionalism and commitment to our country that they are unable to perform on Fifth Avenue this Columbus Day,” said Frank Fusaro, president of the Columbus Citizens Foundation, which organizes the annual Manhattan parade.

West Point marching bandAstrid Stawiarz

West Point’s appearance was going to be underwritten entirely by the citizen’s foundation — which months prior to the government shutdown had agreed to pay for all costs, including transportation, tolls, and meals, Fusaro said in a statement.

“The cancellation of the West Point Marching Band in the 69th annual Columbus Day Parade, which we learned about officially only on Friday, October 11, three days before the parade, was every bit as regrettable for the Band as it was for us,” Fusaro said.

“The Band is made up of active-duty soldiers who are also virtuosos from across the United States. Historically, and for over two centuries, the Band’s members have been ambassadors of our country.”

The West Pointers were replaced by the Ohio North University Marching Band.

The West Point band, which is part of the US Military Academy Band, posted the news on its Facebook page over the weekend, noting: “Unfortunately, due to the government shutdown, we will not be appearing in the Columbus Day Parade on Monday. Keep an eye out for us next year.”

Christopher Columbus is a controversial figure to many, but New York’s marching politicians weren’t going to criticize him.

“The historical figure of Columbus is complicated to say the least . . . There’s some troubling things in his history,” said Democratic mayoral nominee Bill de Blasio.

“But that’s not what this day is about.”

Republican rival Joe Lhota’s campaign spokeswoman, Jessica Proud, called de Blasio a “hypocrite” for separately praising the left-wing Sandinista regime in Nicaragua.

“Amazing that ”@deBlasioNYC has a problem with Columbus but takes no issue with Sandinistas,” Proud tweeted.