Thousands of people helped mark the 60th birthday of America's first suburb with a parade in Levittown Sunday.

A large birthday cake, 12 marching bands and 29 grand marshals kicked off festivities along the Hempstead Turnpike. The marshals are all original homeowners who said they've never regretted moving to Levittown.

"We were thrilled," said Helen Schnide, who moved from Boston with her war veteran husband. "It had a washing machine, dryer and it was a doll house. The happiest 60 years of my life."

William Levitt developed the suburb, which helped many World War II veterans realize their dreams of owning a beautiful home complete with a backyard.

"It's a great celebration for a community [that was] deemed to become a slum in 10 years," parade co-chair Louise Cassano said of the past skeptics. "We're at 60 and going strong," Cassano, who moved in at the age of 7, said.