Dr. Richard LaSpina, a pediatrician who practices in Methuen, lives in Windham, New Hampshire and has deep roots in Lawrence, describes the Feast of the Three Saints with three words: family, friendship and heritage. The 94th edition of this annual tradition, which honors the three young Sicilian men who were tortured to death when they refused to renounce their Christian faith, began in the usual lively fashion Friday evening, with fireworks on the Champagnone Common and the parade stepping off in front of City Hall.

The St. Alfio Band, led since 1962 by Salvatore Erna, played “The Star-Spangled Banner,” then the stirring Italian national anthem, “Inno di Mameli.” They played “La Marcia Reale” (”the Royal March”) as they proceeded along Common, Union, Elm, Newbury and Garden streets, which for many years made up the city’s Italian neighborhood.