Senate Resolution No. 977

BY: Senator GOLDEN

COMMEMORATING the 255th Annual New York City St.
Patrick's Day Parade

WHEREAS, St. Patrick's Day is a time to celebrate the rich heritage
of the Irish people, unlimited in their contribution to this State and
Nation; and

WHEREAS, A St. 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
255th Annual New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade on Friday, March 17,
2017; in recognition of this momentous occasion, a Mass in honor of St.
Patrick will be officiated by His Eminence Timothy Michael Cardinal
Dolan at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Manhattan, New York; and

WHEREAS, The New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade is the oldest
and largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the world; the first parade was
held on March 17, 1762, 14 years before the signing of the Declaration
of Independence; and

WHEREAS, The parade is held annually on March 17th in honor of St.
Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland and the Archdiocese of New York,
and travels up Fifth Avenue beginning at East 44th Street and ending at
East 79th Street; and

WHEREAS, Each year, the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade hosts
approximately 150,000 marchers and draws two million spectators; and

WHEREAS, From its earliest days to the present, the New York City
St. Patrick's Day Parade has been run entirely by volunteers, many of
whom come from generations of families dedicated to the organization of
this auspicious event; and

WHEREAS, The Grand Marshal for the 2017 Parade is Michael J.
Dowling, a Limerick native and the President and CEO of Northwell
Health; he is the first hospital head to serve in this esteemed
position; and

WHEREAS, The Aides to the Grand Marshal of the 2017 Parade are:
Edward C.J. Meehan, New York County Aide; Daniel Donovan, Bronx County
Aide; Thomas Brendan Jones, Queens County Aide; Tom Crockett, Kings
County Aide; Ann Joan Clark, Richmond County Aide; Peter Begley, Nassau
County Aide; Tom McKenna, Suffolk County Aide; Kevin Ellis, Westchester
County Aide; Helen Kilgallen Murphy, Rockland County Aide; Therese
(Terry) Meyer, Orange County Aide; Garrett Doyle, United Irish Counties
Aide; Brian Coughlan, Grand Council of United Emerald Societies Aide;
Michael Cremin, Knights of St. Patrick Aide; Monsignor Kevin Sullivan
Ph.D., Aide-at-Large; and Colonel Patricia M. Groeber, Aide-at-Large;
and

WHEREAS, The St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrates the spirit, purity
and strength of the Irish culture and its fine traditions; and

WHEREAS, Through this heartfelt and compassionate expression, as
well as through their sustained commitment to the cultural vitality of
their Irish heritage, the Irish-American people of New York City, and
the State of New York bear witness to the deep faith and love of
humanity which is their rich tradition; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 255th Annual New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade; and
be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and
the aforementioned Grand Marshal and Aides to the Grand Marshal.