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Welcome to the 124th St.
Patrick's Day Parade!
from the 2005 Chairman
THE 124th PARADE IS MOVING BACK TO
ITS
ORIGINAL HOME - DOWNTOWN ATLANTA
The 2005 Parade, Atlanta's
124th since 1858, is moving back to our original home. The March 19, 2005
Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade will be held in downtown Atlanta. St. Patrick's
Festivities will begin Thursday, March 17 and continue through Saturday, March
19th.
This year's parade promises to be even bigger than the wonderful
2004 parade. A team made up of members of the
Hibernian Benevolent Society of
Atlanta (HBSA), the
Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH),
Clan Na nGael, the Fire
Emerald Society of Metro Atlanta (FESMA),
and
Metropolitan Atlanta Police Emerald Society (MAPES) and hundreds of
community volunteers has come together
to make the traditional Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade a community effort and a really BIG
DEAL! The committee members have worked tirelessly
throughout the year to bring this parade about.
One newspaper reporter asked why a St. Patrick's Day Parade is relevant
in today's world. Part of the answer is the obvious celebration of the
Irish Saint Patrick, but there is an even broader import to this
celebration. It is the celebration of the success of an immigrant people.
The Irish left their homeland for a variety of reasons - poverty, fear and
hopelessness. Many were transported as prisoners. Rather than finding
streets paved with gold, they found slums, prejudice, discrimination and
hatred. Saloonkeepers would post a help wanted sign for the most menial of
positions with the caveat "No Irish Need Apply". The Irish women
worked at the most menial of jobs and in dangerous sweatshops. Slave
owners would hire an Irishman to do a dangerous job rather than risk a
valuable slave. The Irishman had no value. They were at the "bottom
of the food chain".
In spite of the obstacles, these people struggled. They settled in wild
places and they took the jobs no one else would take. Today the Irish can
count among their past and present numbers successful members in all walks
of society. In our country there are U.S. Presidents, Corporate
Executives, Policemen, Firemen, Priests and leaders of all types.
In spite of the odds against them, they struggled, fought and succeeded.
This is a celebration of an immigrant people. It is a celebration of
success. It holds out hope to the multitudes coming to our shores and
starting out in a new land. The success of the Irish is cause for everyone
to celebrate and have hope for the future.
St. Patrick's Day is not just an Irish Celebration. It is a celebration
for all people in our nation. We are all immigrants. Happy St. Patrick's
Day!
Ed Moran,
Chairman
2005 Atlanta St. Patrick's Parade
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