LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Brooklyn Irish American Parade
Committee upon the occasion of its 37th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade
on March 18, 2012

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, We celebrate the faith of St. Patrick, the patron saint of
Ireland, despite religious persecution, famine, colonial occupation and
political oppression; our ancestors kept the faith alive by their indom-
itable spirit against the British occupier who banned the celebration of
Mass in their churches and arrested and harassed the priests 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; the first Bishop
of Brooklyn was Bishop John Loughlin from County Down, Ireland; we join
in faith, with our present Bishop of Brooklyn, the Most Reverend Nicho-
las 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 our
Nation's Bicentennial; its ongoing theme has been The Battle of Brook-
lyn, the 1st battle of the American Revolutionary War, in which
Washington's Irish generals, John Sullivan and Edward Hand played
significant roles and the heroics of the "Maryland 400" Brigade 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 our fled-
gling Republic; and
WHEREAS, The intertwined histories of Ireland and America are rich and
unique histories which span the contributions of Erin's sons and daugh-
ters 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 our
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, Our Parade theme this year is the Bicentennial of The War of
1812, "America's second War of Independence", the war that would deter-
mine the future and final control of the North American continent with
the signing of the Treaty of Ghent; with the British torching the presi-
dent's House in Washington and with the walls so charred that they were
painted white, leading to it being called The White House and the
bombardment by the British at Fort McHenry in their Port of Baltimore
and their defeat, inspired the stirring words of our national anthem,
written by Francis Scott Key, which included the line, "Gave proof
through the night that our flag was still there"; and
WHEREAS, The 2012 Parade is dedicated to the memories of Brooklynites
Governor Hugh Carey, State of New York, and Kevin Patrick Carroll; and
WHEREAS, The Parade will forever be "in remembrance of" the Heroes and
Victims of 9/11-WTC, those whose spirit shines in the darkness include:
343 FDNY Fire Fighters; 23 NYPD Police Officers; 2 EMPS Officers; 3 NYC
Court Officers; 37 PA Police and 37 PA Personnel; we pause to remember
the 11th Anniversary of the attack; and

WHEREAS, Congratulations go out to parade participants who are cele-
brating Anniversaries this year in our Annual parade: the Girl Scouts of
America, especially, Holy Name Girl Scout Troops of Windsor Terrace; and
WHEREAS, The annual Prospect Park's Irish Immigrants "Donegal Hill"
gathering will take place on Saturday, June 2nd, rededication of Bench,
Field-Mass and Ceili; and
WHEREAS, This year's Grand Marshal is John Ridge, son of Irish Immi-
grants from Counties Galway and Longford, and noted author and historian
of the NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade; V.P. of New York Irish History
Roundtable, with his most recent history book, CELEBRATING 250 YEARS,
NEW YORK CITY'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE; John Ridge has written for
many publications, including the IRISH ECHO, the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS,
the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE IRISH IN AMERICA, and the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE
CITY OF NEW YORK, as well as The Ancient Order of Hibernians, and the
Irish County Societies in New York; he also assists others in their
historical research and individuals with researching their family trees;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Irish American Parade Committee on its 37th Annual
St. Patrick's Day Parade to be held on Sunday, March 18, 2012, its Grand
Marshal, John Ridge, noted author and historian, and the Aides to the
Grand Marshal, Donald Kent, McClancy Memorial High School Basketball
Coach; Gloria Bischoff, Business/MS Smith Funeral Home; Anne Hearn,
United Irish Counties/County Longford; Harry Farrell/Labor-Union, Presi-
dent Local 1-2 Utilities Workers Union of America; Frank Keegan, noted
Irish Band Leader/County Roscommon; James Healy, Kings County Ancient
Order of Hibernians; Virginia Sheehan, Ladies Ancient Order of Hiberni-
ans, Kings County; John Moore, Gaelic Sports/Brooklyn Shamrocks; and
Parade Chairperson, James McDonagh, Parade Co-Chairperson Michelle Bren-
nan, and all the citizens of Brooklyn participating in this important
memorable, religious, cultural and civic event; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to John Ridge, Grand Marshal; and his Aides, Donald Kent, Gloria
Bischoff, Anne Hearn, Harry Farrell, Frank Keegan, James Healy, Virginia
Sheehan, and John Moore; and the Brooklyn Irish American Parade Commit-
tee.