EAST LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- It's one of the city's biggest Mexican heritage celebrations.

The 79th annual East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade and Festival was held under the theme of "Tradition, Education and Achievement."

Helping to celebrate the parade was Jose M. Hernandez , this year's grand marshal.

The former NASA astronaut and engineer flew in Space Shuttle mission STS-129 in 2009, before becoming a regent of the University of California.

This is the largest and longest-running parade of its kind in the U.S.

Sunday's celebration will also mark the 94th anniversary of the Mexican Patriotic Civic Committee Inc., which organizes both events each year.

ABC7 is proud to be the exclusive media partner for the East LA Mexican Independence Day Parade.

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