| |
Dear Friend,
On behalf of the organizing committee of the Queens St. Patrick’s Parade &
Irish Fair we invite you to join us for our celebration on Sunday, March tba
2008, at 12:30pm.
Once again, hospitality and exclusivity will be the hallmarks of our
celebration as we continue to build on the spirit of the historical
breakthrough of former years. Unique among Irish gatherings in the nation,
ours is open and welcoming to all who wish to share in the spirit of the
day. Our St. Patrick’s celebration remains the only NY parade to welcome and
celebrate the gifts and unique contribution of Irish LGBT community groups.
More than a parade, we have become a unique expression & exploration of what
it means to be Irish in New York City at the beginning of the 21st century.
We are happy, as in previous years, to have many in the community join us.
Your presence and support means a lot to the people of Queens, the city’s
Irish community and the Irish visitors joining us.
The 2006 theme "Cherishing All the Children of the Nation Equally" is taken
from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic of 1816. An ideal from our past
which continues to inspire and challenge us. We welcome participation by
other communities that call New York home, particularly those from Queens.
It is to the borough of Queens that immigrants arrive daily with their hopes
& dreams as have the Irish since pre-famine times.
We are delighted to have so many diverse contingents, including caribbean,
Latino, and Native American. The participation of the Mexican community
highlights the historic al and contemporary links between our countries from
the historic "San Patricios" to President Fox's Irish grandmother!
The enthusiasm of community groups and public officials is heartening.
Pipers, unions, religious communities, youth groups, seniors, dancers and
puppeteers, will return to Sunnyside in celebration of diversity.
Parade banners will honor leaders from our past and present such as Mike
Quill, Paul O'Dwyer, Fr. Mychal Judge, Mother Jone, Dorothy Day and Philip
Berrigan.Inquiries from
Methodist, Anglican, & Jewish communities reflect the ecumenical face of
contemporary Ireland.
Choctaw and Shinnecock nations will participate for the 5th year -- a
reminder of the generosity of the Native Americans during the years of "An
Gorta Mor", The Great Famine.
In closing we thank you for your enthusiasm & leadership for an inclusive &
diverse New York. We hope that you will join us. Have a cup of tea served by
the American Red Cross before marching together to the Afro-Celtic sounds of
Ireland’s De Jimbe!
Le Meas,
Brendan Fay
Barbara Ann Heffernan Mohr
Co-Chairs
The Queens St. Patrick's
Parade & Fair Committee
The Queens St Patrick's Parade & Irish Fair Committee would like to invite
you to join us for our St. Patrick's Parade & Irish Celebration on Sunday, March
2ND 2003, at 1:00pm. Once again, hospitality and inclusively will be the
hallmarks of our celebration as we continue to build on the spirit of the
historical breakthrough of former years. Unique among Irish gatherings in the
nation, ours is open and welcoming to all who wish to share in the spirit of the
day. More than a parade, we have become a unique expression & exploration of
what it means to be Irish in New York city at the beginning of the 21st century.
Last years gathering will be a poignant one given the September 11th tragedy
that changed the lives of our city and world forever. Children & students
carrying portraits of our deceased brothers & sisters, family members and loved
ones, especially the Fire Fighters, Police & EMS workers, killed in the WTC
tragedy, will lead the parade along with pipers.
A special honor will be given to the late Fr. Mychal Judge OFM, advocate for the
poor and homeless, fire chaplain and a man with a heart as big as New York.
Mychal was so proud of his Co. Leitrim heritage, and was deeply concerned that
we find new ways to build bridges with each other whether in Belfast or New
York. He was a keen supporter of the inclusive spirit of the Queens parade. So
we are heartened that representatives of the fire brigade and ambulance services
will be travelling from Ireland to join us this year.
To have the people of Drogheda, Ireland represented at this parade is very
significant and a great honor. Historians now agree that many natives of
Drogheda were shipped as slaves to work on the sugar plantations of Barbados. We
honor their memory with the sounds of steel drums as well as pipers in the
parade. The Ecuadorian contingent will pay tribute to Drogheda native Thomas
Charles Wright, founder of their nation’s navy.
We are expecting, as in previous years, many community leaders including Mayor
Bloomberg. To have our Mayor march with us in the parade would mean a lot to the
people of Queens, the city’s Irish community and the Irish visitors joining us
in our shared grief & tribute.
The 2002 theme "Cherishing All the Children of the Nation Equally," is taken
from the Proclamation of the Irish Republic. An
ideal from our past and guide for our future. We welcome participation by other
communities that call New York home but in particular those from Queens. It is
to the borough of Queens that immigrants arrive daily with their hopes & dreams
as have the Irish since pre-famine times.
We are delighted to have so many contingents from other communities, including
Caribbean, Latino, and Native American. This year we look forward to the
participation of The Mexican community highlighting the historic and contempory
links between our countries from the historic "San Patricios" to President Fox's
Irish grandmother!
We have been getting calls of support from community groups and public
officials. Pipers, unions, religious communities, youth groups, gay groups,
seniors, dancers and puppeteers, all looking forward to returning to Sunnyside
to celebrate our wonderful diversity.
The parade banners will honor the lives of many leaders from our past and
present. Labor leaders such as Mike Quill and Mother Jones. Catholic visionaries
like Catherine McCauley and Dorothy Day. We have also heard from Methodist,
Anglican, Jewish & communities.
Representatives of the Native American Choctaw and Shinnecock nations will
participate for the 3rd year. a reminder of the generosity of the Choctaw
during the years of "An Gorta Mor", the Great Famine.
Thank you for enthusiasm & leadership for a tolerant & diverse New York.
We hope that you will join us in this wonderful community event (have a cup of
tea served by the American Red Cross before you line up behind the puppets &
the sounds of jigs & reels played by "De Jimbe"!) as we march together in
Queens' St. Patrick's Parade "cherishing all the children of the nation
equally"!
Le Meas
Brendan Fay, Barbara Ann Mohr
Co-Chairs
for additional information
http://www.stpatsforall.com
|
|
