Sunday, March 19, 2017
St. Patrick's Day Parade Season 2017
St.
Patrick’s Day Parades
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| Division #1 Marching Past St. Patrick's Cathedral in NYC Parade |
The
Ancient Order of Hibernians often refers to the month of March as the “High
Holy Season” and for good reason, as the members of Division #1 Yonkers New York City Yonkers
The White Plains
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| Father & Son March together! Arthur Doran Jr. with Arthur Doran III |
This year Division #1 marched in the 256th Annual New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade where several inches of snow which had blanketed the city only 2 days before March 17th. The NYC Sanitation Department did a wonderful job clearing the parade route.
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| Division #1 Prepares to Step Off in the 256th NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade |
This year
was very special as Division #1 President Kevin Ellis was chosen as the
Westchester County Aide to the Grand Marshal.
President Ellis greeted the Division as they came up 5th Avenue
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| Division President Kevin Ellis - Aide to the Grand Marshal |
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| Kevin Ellis greeting Division #1 as they march up 5th Avenue in NYC |
The very next
day, Division #1 participated in the 62nd Annual Yonkers St. Patrick’s
Day Parade, where Cardinal Timothy Dolan was selected as the parade Grand Marshal.
Sean McEvoy was chosen as the Aide to the
Grand Marshal for his years of dedication to Division #1 and the entire Yonkers
Irish Community. This was a very well
deserved and overdue honor and we couldn’t be more proud of Sean on this day!
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| Cardinal Dolan Celebrates Yonkers Parade Mass at St. Barnabas Church |
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| 2017 Yonkers Parade Parade Grand Marshal Cardinal Timothy Dolan |
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| Division #1 Yonkers Member Sean McEvoy was Aide to the Grand Marshal |
The Yonkers
St. Patrick’s Day Parade was founded by Division #1 Yonkers
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| The AOH Division #1 Founded the Yonkers St. Patrick's Day Parade in 1955 |
Thanks to all the members who make the effort to march in all of our parades each and every year! We are already looking "down the road" to next years St. Patrick's Day Parade Season!
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| Division #1 Yonkers in the 256th Annual NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade |
Friday, March 17, 2017
Annual St. Patrick's Day Message
HAPPY ST. PATRICK’S DAY!
Today Marks the 256th Annual New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade
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| The oldest, largest, and grandest parade in the world! |
As has become customary, we reprint our St. Patrick’s Day Message first printed in the commemorative book
“250 Years of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”
“250 Years of the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade.”
"For 256 years we've marched, through adverse times and weather. We've marched in this sacred parade through years of occupation, persecution, and poverty.
We've marched through years of famine, war, discrimination and hate; years of working the killing jobs that no one else would take.
We triumphed over all with a courageous and joyful spirit that is uniquely Irish.
Through it all we survived and never wavered; we held the banner high; we never let the standard drop.
And as always, we marched.
Today we remember the millions of marchers who came before us, those magnificent Irish souls whose struggles have given us all we have today. We pray for them, we honor them; and we ask God to grant us the grace to always be as strong as they were.
On this momentous day let us rededicate ourselves to the struggle. May we always band together to help each other, and bravely fight to overcome the world's adversities. May we always hold the banner high and never drop the standard. And may we teach our children and our children's children to do the same.
Whatever the future brings, let us meet it with the hope, faith and happiness of our forebears.
And always…..LET US MARCH."
May God bless this parade, all who march in it, and all those who work to maintain, preserve and protect the spirit and message of St. Patrick’s Day.
The Officers and Members also wish to congratulate our Division President Kevin Ellis as he serves today as the Westchester County Aide to the Grand Marshal in today's NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade!
Friday, March 10, 2017
Irish History Report for March 2017
Irish Historian’s Report
Division One is honored to share Irish History articles provided by The National Historian of The Ancient Order of Hibernians
Here are two stories and both are absolutely true – and worth reading! The first began on5 September 1893 when a son was born in St. Louis , MO Chicago Holly Hills
The second O’Hare story occurred years later during World War II – a war that produced many heroes. One such was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. Heart-to-heart talks with his father, who was fascinated with flying and had even hitched a ride in Charles Lindbergh's mail plane, inspired Butch to become a Navy pilot. A friend of his father’s, Congressman John J. Cochran, had appointed Butch to the U.S. Naval Academy. He became a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrierLexington 20 February, 1942 , his squadron was sent on a mission. Once airborne, his saw that his crew chief had forgotten to top off his tank. Without enough fuel to complete the mission and return, his flight leader told him to return to the carrier. Reluctantly, he dropped out of formation and headed back. On his return he saw something that turned his blood cold – a squadron of Japanese ‘Betty’ bombers speeding toward the American fleet.
A TALE OF TWO O’HARES
By Mike McCormack
Here are two stories and both are absolutely true – and worth reading! The first began on
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| Al Capone with "Easy" Eddie O'Hare |
Eddie lived the high life of the Chicago IRS and it was with his help that the government convicted and imprisoned Capone for income tax evasion. IRS agent Frank J. Wilson called Eddie one of the best undercover men I have ever known. Eddie testified against Capone, knowing that he was putting himself in harm’s way. In 1939, a week before Capone was released from Alcatraz ; O'Hare was driving home in his black 1939 Lincoln-Zephyr coupe. At the intersection of Ogden and Rockwell, two shotgun-wielding gunmen in a dark sedan drove alongside and fired a volley into his car. O'Hare was killed instantly. He died knowing that he had given his son the greatest gift he could offer – integrity – at the greatest price he could pay. Among his final effects, Police removed from his pockets a rosary, a religious medallion and a poem that read:
"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power
to tell just when the hands will stop, at late or early hour.
Now is the only time you own. Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time. For the clock may soon be still.'"
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| New Reports of the Murder of Eddie O'Hare |
The second O’Hare story occurred years later during World War II – a war that produced many heroes. One such was Lieutenant Commander Butch O'Hare. Heart-to-heart talks with his father, who was fascinated with flying and had even hitched a ride in Charles Lindbergh's mail plane, inspired Butch to become a Navy pilot. A friend of his father’s, Congressman John J. Cochran, had appointed Butch to the U.S. Naval Academy. He became a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier
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| Eddie "Butch" O'Hare in his F4 Wildcat Fighter Plane |
The American fighters were gone on a sortie and the fleet was all but defenseless. Butch couldn't reach his squadron and bring them back in time, nor could he warn the fleet of the approaching danger. There was only one thing to do. He must somehow divert them from their course. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese bombers with wing-mounted 50 caliber's blazing, attacking one surprised enemy plane after another. He wove in and out of the now broken formation and fired at as many planes as possible until his ammunition was finally spent. Undaunted, he continued the assault. He dove at the bombers, trying to clip a wing or tail in hopes of damaging as many of them as possible, rendering them unfit to fly. Finally, the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in another direction trying to flee this ‘crazy’ American pilot. Deeply relieved, Butch O'Hare and his tattered Grumman F-4F Wildcat fighter limped back to the carrier. Upon reporting in, he related the events surrounding his return. The film from the gun-mounted camera on his plane verified the tale. It showed the extent of his daring attempt to protect the fleet. He had, in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft and damaged another. For his heroism Butch O’Hare became the Navy's first Ace of WWII and the first Naval Aviator to be awarded the Medal of Honor by Congress.
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| Edward O'Hare receives the Medal of Honor from President Roosevelt |
A year later Butch was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. After the war, on April 19, 1947, 70 years ago this month, Col. Robert McCormick, publisher of the Chicago Tribune, proposed that Chicago's new airport be named for the naval hero, who had often visited his father in their city. On September 17, 1949 , O'Hare Airport was dedicated to Edward H. "Butch" O'Hare. So, the next time you find yourself at Chicago
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| The Edward "Butch" O'Hare Memorial at O'Hare Airport in Chicago |
Now, what do these two O’Hares have in common?
Butch was 'Easy Eddie's' son! (Pretty cool, eh!)
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