[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    BELMAR ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE

                                 ______


                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 24, 1995
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, on the afternoon of Sunday, March 6, 1995, 
the 22d annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will move through the streets 
of Belmar, NJ.
  Mr. Speaker, from its modest beginnings little more than two decades 
ago, the Belmar event has become the biggest and best-attended St. 
Patrick's Day Parade in the State of New Jersey, and one of the finest 
in the Nation. While not quite as big as the New York City parade, the 
Belmar event has steadily been attracting crowds of more than 100,000 
people, drawn from the Jersey shore area and throughout our State, 
surrounding States and other nations, including Ireland itself. More 
than 4,000 marchers are expected this year, including members of 
community organizations, elected officials, 30 marching bands, 
including the award-winning Friendly Sons of Shillelagh Marching Band 
of Old Bridge, NJ, 20 floats, bagpipers, and leaders of Irish-American 
organizations. Both the participants and the many spectators always 
have a wonderful time.
  The 1995 grand marshal is Msgr. Alfred D. Smith, pastor of St. Rose 
Roman Catholic Church in Belmar. The deputy grand marshal is Eileen P. 
O'Connell of Wall Township. A previous grand marshal, Monmouth County 
Freeholder Thomas J. Powers, has been selected by the parade committee 
to be this year's parade commentator. Mr. Powers underwent heart 
surgery shortly after Christmas, but he assures all of his friends and 
many well-wishers that he'll be ready for St. Paddy's Day.
  The Belmar St. Patrick's Day Parade was established in 1973 by 
members of the Jerry Lynch Social & Athletic Club. Mr. Lynch is 
credited with being the parade founder. The first parade, held in 1974, 
had 50 club members marching in top hats and tails, followed by four 
marching bands and numerous fire engines. That year, the crowd of 
spectators was not much bigger than the contingent of marchers. The 
first grand marshal was my predecessor and a name well known to many of 
the Members of this body: the late Congressman James J. Howard, a 
lifelong resident of the Jersey shore who took great pride in his Irish 
heritage.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a great honor for me to pay tribute to the Belmar 
St. Patrick's Day Parade, a great and proud tradition of the Jersey 
shore for Irish-Americans and people of all backgrounds.


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