LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Brooklyn Irish American Parade
Committee on the occasion of its 39th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on
March 16, 2014

WHEREAS, "Faith, History, Tribute & Remembrance" are 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, 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 Bish-
op of Brooklyn John Loughlin from County Down, Ireland; we join in
Faith, with the 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 our
Nation's Bicentennial and its ongoing theme has been The Battle of
Brooklyn, 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, a rich and
unique history which spans the contributions of Erin's sons and daugh-
ters to the independence, formation and development of the Untied
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 Parade Theme this year is "The Bicentennial of the Star
Spangled Banner" and "The 135th Anniversary of Holy Name of Jesus Church
in Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn"; and
WHEREAS, The 2014 Parade is dedicated to the memory of Bishop Joseph
M. Sullivan (1985 Parade Grand Marshal); 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: 343 FDNY
Fire Fighters; 23 NYPD Police Officers; 2 EMPS Officers; 3 NYC Court
Officers; 37 PA Police; 37 PA Personnel, we pause to remember the 13th
Anniversary of the attack; and
WHEREAS, This year's Grand Marshal is Reverend James K. Cunningham,
Pastor of Holy Name of Jesus Church and his aids are: Frank Carroll
(United Irish Counties of New York), Paul Finnegan (Irish Culture -
Executive Director, New York Irish Center), Captain James Grant
(Uniformed Services - Commanding Officer, 72nd Precinct), James Keena-
ghan (Gaelic Sports - Brooklyn Shamrock's Irish Football Club), Maura
O'Donnell Lorenzen (Education-Principal, St. Savior Catholic Academy),
Mary O'Hara (LAOH-Kings County Board), Anne Strafaci (Aide-At-Large -

Development Officer, St. Patrick's Parish), and Edward Velinskie
(AOH-Kings County Board); now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Irish American Parade Committee on its 39th St.
Patrick's Day Parade to be held on Sunday, March 16th, 2014, Parade
Chairperson James McDonagh and Parade co-Chairperson Michelle Brennan
and all the citizens of Brooklyn, participating in this important memo-
rable, religious, cultural and civic event; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Reverend James K. Cunningham, Frank Carroll, Paul Finnegan,
Captain James Grant, James Keenaghan, Maura O'Donnell Lorenzen, Mary
O'Hara, Anne Strafaci, Edward Velinskie, and the Brooklyn Irish American
Parade Committee.