Amid the sea of green, Irish music, Colleen floats and marching units Fire Lt. Andrew Baraslow, 30, stopped marching, dropped to one knee and proposed to his long-time girlfriend Pamela Novinsky. Both live in Holyoke.

“We talked about it. He said he was going to propose and, at the end of the day, he picked the time and executed it extremely well,” said Fire Lt. Tim Leary, who is a close friend of Barsalow’s. “She was totally and completely caught off guard. It was a 100 percent surprise.”

Barsalow was part of the Holyoke Firefighters unit which was marching in the beginning of the parade. The group knew Novinsky would be watching on Beech Street in front of Holyoke High School and came to a stop when they spotted her.

“A couple of firefighters ran into the audience and escorted her out into the middle of the street and the marching unit made a circle around her and he dropped to his knee and proposed,” Leary said.

Barsalow was carrying a diamond engagement ring in his pocket and slipped it on her finger when she said “Yes.” The couple shared a kiss and then the marching unit reformed and marched away.

“I’m so proud of him. It is a new chapter in their lives,” Leary said.

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By Jeanette DeForge

The Republican