Honor Brooklyn Irish Parade

Senate Resolution No. 3647 BY: Senator GOLDEN COMMENDING the Brooklyn Irish American Parade Committee upon the occasion of its 43rd Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade to be held March 18, 2018 WHEREAS, "FAITH, HISTORY, TRIBUTE & REMEMBRANCE" is the core of the Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick's Day Parade held on the 3rd Sunday in March; and WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Irish American Parade Committee celebrates the Faith of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland; despite religious persecution, famine, colonial occupation and political oppression, their ancestors kept the Faith alive by their indomitable spirit against the British occupier, who banned the celebration of mass in their churches, arrested and harassed the priests and during the Penal Days, the faithful had to gather at "Mass Rocks" in the glens; and WHEREAS, The Faith of St. Patrick was transmitted and transplanted by the millions of Irish immigrants who came to America and the first Bishop of Brooklyn was Bishop John Loughlin from County Down, Ireland; they join the Faith, with their present Bishop of Brooklyn, The Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio in preserving that Faith and Catholic education with its Irish roots in the Diocese of Brooklyn; and WHEREAS, The Parade was founded in 1975 in preparation for their Nation's Bicentennial and its ongoing theme has been The Battle of Brooklyn, the 1st battle of the American Revolutionary War and the heroic role the "Maryland 400" Brigade played at The Old Stone House, holding off the British long enough for Washington's Army to cross the East River to Manhattan, saving his army and their fledgling Republic; and WHEREAS, The intertwined histories of Ireland and America are a rich and unique history which spans the contributions of Erin's sons and daughters to the independence, formation and development of the United States; Irish Americans served with great distinction, honor and heroism in all of the wars, from Washington's Irish generals in the American Revolutionary War, to Thomas Francis Meagher's Irish Brigade in the Civil War, to the famed fighting Irish 69th Regiment; and WHEREAS, The Parade pays tribute to Erin's sons and daughters, both past and present, for their vast contributions to the church, to their military and uniformed services, to public and civic life, to labor and the law, to education and healthcare, and to their Borough, City, State and Nation; and WHEREAS, This year's theme is "In Remembrance of: the Heroes & Victims of 9/11-WTC"; the 2018 Parade is dedicated to the memory of the "Bishop of Brooklyn" and 2000 Grand Marshal, Bishop Thomas Daily, and John "Moe" Maloney from the Knights of Columbus-Holy Name Council No.

18, 2018, and to pay just tribute to this year's Grand Marshal, Richard J. Moylan, President of Green-Wood Cemetery, and the Aides to the Grand Marshal: Malachy McAllister, United Irish Counties of New York, County Antrim; Thomas Galligan, Grand Council of Emerald Societies, Department of Sanitation NYC; Tracy Sullivan, Owner, Connie O's Pub, Greenpoint; Dorothy Taylor, Principal, St. Francis Xavier Catholic Academy; Louise O'Connor, Aide-At-Large, Holy Name of Jesus Church, Office Manager; Thomas Alverson, Irish Culture, Piper, Clann Eireann Pipe Band; Thomas McConvey, Gaelic Sports, Brooklyn Shamrocks Gaelic Football Club; Joan Healy, LAOH, Kings County Div. 19, Gerritsen Beach; and Kevin Smylie, AOH, Kings County Board, Div. 35; as well as all the citizens of Brooklyn, participating in this important memorable, cultural and civic event; and be it further RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Grand Marshal Richard J. Moylan, his Aides and the Brooklyn Irish American Parade Committee.