LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Mark C. Edwards upon the occasion of his
designation as a Deputy Grand Marshal of the 37th Annual Queens County
St. Patrick's Day Parade, March 3, 2012

WHEREAS, St. Patrick's Day is a time for people of all nationalities and
generations to assemble and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of
the Irish people throughout these United States; and
WHEREAS, A St. Patrick's Day Parade reflects and records the ongoing
history of the United States and Ireland, and highlights the many
contributions and historical accomplishments of the Irish community in
this diverse land; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Mark C.
Edwards upon the occasion of being named a Deputy Grand Marshal of the
37th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade, to be held on Satur-
day, March 3, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Also being honored as Deputy Grand Marshals at this year's
Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade are Maureen Donachie, Mary Ellen
Murray, Maurice Landers, Ralph Reed, Richard Keane, Laura Sporny, Sister
Agnes White, C.S.J., Eileen McDonald, and Michael Charles Schramm, Jr.;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, the 37th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day
Parade will honor Kevin O'Brien as Grand Marshal of the parade, Thomas
Flood and Eileen Long-Chelales as Honorary Grand Marshals and Edward
Rice and Paddy McCarthy as Gaels of the Year; and
WHEREAS, All of this year's honorees are fittingly being recognized
for their service in their individual fields to the Irish and Irish-Am-
ericans throughout New York State; and
WHEREAS, Mark C. Edwards was born in Brooklyn, New York on August 1,
1964 and is the proud older brother of Brian and Paul Edwards and Tara
Edwards Light; and
WHEREAS, Mark's father, David Edwards, comes from County Dublin; the
parents of his mother, Monica Brennan Edwards, came from County Mayo and
County Kilkenny; his wife Alice's mother, the late Maura Burns Foley,
came from County Monaghan and her father, Michael Foley, came from Coun-
ty Kerry; and
WHEREAS, Mark's family moved to Rockaway in 1973; he is a graduate of
P.S. 114, J.H.S. 180 and Beach Channel High School; and
WHEREAS, In 1985, Mark Edwards started working for Con Edison, where
he is currently a High Voltage Troubleshooter in Con Edison's Brooklyn
Emergency Department; he spent a month at the World Trade Center site
restoring power to lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks in 2001;
and
WHEREAS, During high school, he met and later, in 1989, married Alice
Foley; Alice is a graduate of St. Francis de Sales and Stella Maris High
School; they have three wonderful children, Maeghan 20, Sean 19, and
Maura 6 and, Mark is, in addition, the proud uncle of nieces Devon,
Ceara and Aislinn Foley and nephews Benjamin, Michael and Matthew
Edwards and Michael and Christopher Light; and
WHEREAS, Mark Edwards' love of Irish culture and music started at a
very early age; growing up in an Irish family he was surrounded by
stories of Ireland and its music; when he was 13 years old, he spent
three months in Ireland with his aunt, uncle, and cousins, and grew to
love the country and the culture even more; and
WHEREAS, As a father, he wanted to pass on his love of Ireland to his
children and has brought them there several times so they could experi-
ence it as well and, to broaden his Irish studies, he is currently
taking Irish language lessons; and

WHEREAS, With deep pride for his Irish heritage, Mark Edwards decided
to join the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 21 (Rockaway
Beach/Breezy Point) and soon thereafter became its Treasurer; he was
elected President of the Division three years ago and, under his leader-
ship the Division has grown 40 percent in membership and has donated
more than $18,000 to local charities; he is, in addition, an officer on
the Queens County AOH Board; and
WHEREAS, Mark Edwards is also a member of the Graybeards, a local
charitable organization dedicated to helping neighbors and others in
need, as well as to supporting our troops who have been wounded in
combat with the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization to which he
donates countless hours of his time; and
WHEREAS, Mark Edwards truly embodies the spirit and the cherished
ideals and values of Irish-Americans of this great State and nation; it
is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individuals of such
noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our attention, they should
be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of the great State of
New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Mark C. Edwards upon the occasion of his designation as a Deputy
Grand Marshal of the 37th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade,
to be held on March 3, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Mark C. Edwards.