St. Patrick’s Day
By Christy Scannell
SDUN Editor
John Finn, the oldest living Medal of Honor recipient, will serve as grand marshal of the 30th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 13. This year’s theme is “Celebrating 30 Years of Community Unity with Special Thanks to our Veterans and Military.”
“We wanted to make sure [retired and current military] know the Irish community appreciates their service. Through our hospitality during our parade and festival we want to say thank you for all they have done,” said Mickey Michaud, 2010 St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival chairman.
Finn, who will be 101 in July, received the Medal of Honor in 1942 for his action during the Pearl Harbor attacks. Among other honored veterans in the parade will be Jay R. Vargas, a Medal of Honor recipient for his service in Vietnam; Frank Sexton, who fought in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps and was a POW in Germany; Michael Neil, a Navy Cross recipient for his service in Vietnam (and the festival’s 2010 Irish Man of the Year); Delmar Miller, an Army veteran of Korea and a former POW (and the festival’s 2010 San Diego Man of the Year); and Margie Johnson, a Vietnam Wave and longtime volunteer for the Irish Congress of Southern California (and the festival’s 2010 San Diego Woman of the Year). A number of other veterans are also scheduled to participate.
The parade, part of an all-day festival honoring Ireland’s patron saint, steps off at 11 a.m. from the corner of Sixth and Juniper streets, travels north on Fifth Avenue, goes west on Upas for a block and then turns south on Sixth Avenue to conclude at Laurel Street. The festival will take place on the west side of Balboa Park from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
In addition to the military honorees, the parade will recognize the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Operation Rebound, which provides support to military and first responders who suffer permanent injuries in the line of duty, and OMBAC (the Old Mission Beach Athletic Club), a San Diego sports club and philanthropy.
Mayor Jerry Sanders is the executive grand marshal. Other dignitaries will include retired Irish Fianna Fáil politician Joseph Dowling and his wife, Anne; honorary Irish guests John and Angela Byrne; 2010 Irish Woman of the Year, Delphine Malone; 2010 Miss Colleen, Aine Prendergast; and 2010 Smiling Irishman, Trevor Wessman-Lavelle.
The parade will have more than 150 entries, featuring five marching bands, three bagpipe contingents, equestrians, police and fire department units, dancing groups, representatives from Ireland, roller skaters, antique cars and clowns.
“We want to share our Irish culture and hospitality with our neighbors and friends in a family friendly atmosphere,” said Michaud, who recruits volunteers for the parade and festival from the volunteer Irish Congress of Southern California. “Everyone with Irish roots holds the day special in their hearts. It is on this day like no other when everyone of Irish lineage is united.”
Around 50,000 people are expected to visit the festival along Sixth Avenue from Laurel to Quince streets. The festival’s Celtic Village, entertainment stages, beer gardens, food booths, craft tables and a kids play area will be free and open to the public, although visitors to the beer garden must provide proof they are 21 or older. A raffle will offer tickets to win a 2010 Harley-Davidson Model FLSTC “Firefighters Special” Heritage Softail Classic.
Festival entertainment will include the bagpipes and drums of the San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society; Brian Baynes, a Celtic musician and frequent guest artist with the San Diego Symphony; recording artist Tony Cummins; Brehon Law, an Irish folk-rock trio from Carlsbad; Escondido pub owner and musician Ned Giblin and the Boys; Irish pub songs performed by Harold & Gabe; original Celtic-style music from San Diego-based Sheela-Na-Gig; the Celtic vocal talents of Heloise Love and Richard Gordon; and the Shamrockers, a San Diego-based Irish band with a classic rock flair.
In the Patriot Zone at the festival, veterans can gather to swap stories and share in information provided by the USO, Operation Homefront, the Challenged Athletes Foundation, Operation Caregiver, The Chosen Few and others.
The St. Patrick’s celebration will begin early that day with a Catholic mass conducted by Msgr. Patrick O’Neill, starting at 7:15 a.m. in the Imperial House, 505 Kalmia St. After a breakfast for dignitaries hosted by the Irish Congress, a formal flag-raising ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Laurel Street, with U.S. and Irish flags presented by a U.S. Marine Corps color guard. The U.S. Marine Corps Band will play “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Amhrán na bhFiann” (“The Soldier’s Song”), Ireland’s national anthem.
For more information, go to stpatsparade.org.u
