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PUBLISHED ON EDITION NO.
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333L
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3/22/2010 |
EDITORIAL:
Traditions are important |
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The first
St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland but in the
United States. According to History.com, Irish soldiers
serving in the English military marched through New York City
on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped
the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as
fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.
Today, that parade is the world’s oldest civilian parade and
the largest in the United States, with over 150,000
participants and millions onlookers.
From there it spread all over the country and the world,
including Ireland.
Even when we don’t have a date as of when that tradition came
to Lawrence, it’s fair to believe that it was when thousands
of immigrants from Ireland came here during the industrial
revolution, making that event one of the most colorful of the
city.
With the passing of the years and the closing of the mills,
the Irish moved out of the city in pursuit of better jobs,
making it difficult for organizers of the yearly celebration
to plan one.
Fortunately, the city has a group that has made it their
business keeping the tradition alive, led by a woman that has
erased the word “impossible” out of her dictionary. Her name
is Marie Gosselin.
This last parade proved it! Three months ago she began
organizing the parade with no money in the bank. She and her
team started knocking on doors, the money started coming and
so the parade participants, many of them didn’t wait to be
invited, they called her to be included.
Recently, Women in Business Magazine wrote about Marie: “… She
is stubborn when it has to do with Lawrence and the
improvement of its image; a true Lawrencian.”
We totally agree. |
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