LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 37th Annual Brooklyn Saint
Patrick's Day Parade, to be held on Sunday, March 18, 2012

WHEREAS, Saint Patrick's Day is a time for all to celebrate the rich
heritage of the Irish people, unlimited in their contributions to this
greatly diverse land of ours; and
WHEREAS, A Saint Patrick's Day parade reflects and records the ongoing
history of the United States and Ireland, and provides an opportunity
for people of all generations to assemble in ethnic pride and pageantry;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 37th
Annual Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade, to be held on Sunday, March
18, 2012; and
WHEREAS, "Faith, History, Tribute, and Remembrance" is the core of the
Annual Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade held on the 3rd Sunday in
March; and
WHEREAS, During the Parade, Brooklyn celebrates the Faith of Saint
Patrick, the patron Saint of Ireland; and
WHEREAS, Despite religious persecution, famine, colonial occupation
and political oppression, Irish ancestors kept the Faith alive by their
indomitable spirit against the British occupier, who banned the cele-
bration of Mass in their Churches, 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 Saint Patrick was transmitted and transplanted
by the millions of Irish immigrants who came to America and by the first
Bishop of Brooklyn, Bishop John Loughlin from County Down, Ireland; and
WHEREAS, Today, the current Bishop of Brooklyn, the Most Reverend
Nicholas DiMarzio continues preserving that Faith and Catholic Education
with its Irish roots in the Diocese of Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade was founded in 1975
in preparation for our Nation's Bicentennial and its on-going theme has
been The Battle of Brooklyn, the 1st battle of the American Revolution-
ary 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 fledgling Republic; and
WHEREAS, The intertwined histories of Ireland and America, a rich and
unique history which spans 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, The theme of this year's parade is, The Bicentennial of The
War of 1812, "America's second War of Independence", another war with
Great Britain and the war that would determine the future and final
control of the North American continent; the bombardment by the British
at Fort McHenry in the Port of Baltimore inspired the stirring words of
our national anthem, written by Francis Scott Key, which includes 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 37th Annual Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade will
forever be "In Remembrance of The Heroes and Victims of 9/11-WTC, those
whose spirit shines in the darkness; 343 FDNY Fire Fighters; 21 NYPD
Police Officers; 2 EMPS Officers; NYC Court Officers; 37 PA Police; 37
PA Personnel"; we pause to remember the 11th Anniversary of the attack;
and
WHEREAS, Congratulations go out to participants who are celebrating
Anniversaries this year in this year's Annual Parade; Girl Scouts of
America, especially, Holy Name Girl Scout Troops of Windsor Terrace; and
WHEREAS, The annual gathering of Prospect Park's "Donegal Hill" Reun-
ion of Irish Immigrants will take place on Saturday, June 2nd, with the
"rededication ceremony" of the Irish Immigrant's Bench, Prospect Park
West and 14th Street and Field-Mass; 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 Saint Patrick's Day Parade; V.P., New York Irish History
Roundtable, with his most recent history book, CELEBRATING 250 YEARS,
NEW YORK CITY'S ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE; and
WHEREAS, John Ridge has written for many publications, including the
IRISH ECHO, the NY DAILY NEWS, the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE IRISH IN AMERICA,
the ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE CITY OF NEW, THE ANCIENT ORDER OF HIBERNIANS,
IRISH COUNTY SOCIETIES IN NEW YORK, and he also assists others in the
historical research and individuals with researching their family trees;
and
WHEREAS, The 37th Annual Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade recog-
nizes Aides to the Grand Marshal: Donald Kent, McClancy Memorial High
School Basketball Coach; Gloria Bischoff, Business/M.J. Smith Funeral
Home; Anne Hearn, United Irish Counties/County Longford; Harry
Farrell/Labor-Union, President Local 1-2 Utility Workers Union of Ameri-
ca; Frank Keegan, noted Irish Band Leader/County Longford; James Healy,
Kings County Ancient Order of Hibernians; Virginia Sheehan, Ladies
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Kings County; John Moore, Gaelic
Sports/Brooklyn Shamrocks; and
WHEREAS, The 37th Annual Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade also
commends Parade Chairperson, James McDonagh, Parade Co-Chairperson,
Michelle Brennan, and all the citizens of Brooklyn participating in this
important memorable, religious, cultural and civic event; and
WHEREAS, Each year as we honor Saint Patrick, whose life mirrored a
deep and abiding example of the challenges of sainthood, we are mindful
of the history of the Irish people and their struggle against
oppression, religious intolerance and political, social and economic
barriers; and
WHEREAS, The Annual Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade truly cele-
brates the spirit, purity, and strength of Irish culture and its fine
traditions; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 37th Annual Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade, to be
held on Sunday, March 18, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Brooklyn Saint Patrick's Day Parade, the Cultural Commit-
tee, and the aforementioned Honorees.