    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [March 12, 1998]
    [Page 367]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 367]]

    Message on the Observance of Saint Patrick's Day, 1998
    March 12, 1998

        Warmest greetings to everyone celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. On
    this day dedicated to Ireland's great patron saint, I join millions of
    other Americans across our country in remembering with pride the roots
    of our Irish heritage.
        As it has been for so many immigrants, America has always been a
    beacon of hope for the Irish people. And the Irish people have always
    been a source of light and energy to keep that beacon shining brightly.
    They arrived with little. But the Irish did not come to America empty-
    handed. They brought with them strong arms and an even stronger spirit
    that would help to build our nation's great canals, bridges, and
    railroads; that would wrest coal from Pennsylvania's mines and raise the
    skyscrapers of New York City. They brought with them a love of words
    that enriched American journalism and literature. They brought a great
    reverence for education and built schools across the country renowned
    for their scholarship and social conscience.
        Perhaps their greatest gifts to America have been an abiding love of
    liberty and a patriotic spirit. Irish Americans have served with
    distinction in every American conflict, from the Revolutionary War to
    the Persian Gulf, and their keen sense of social justice made them among
    the first and most effective voices for labor reform. Generations of
    Irish Americans entered public service to reach out to those in need--to
    feed the poor, find jobs for the unemployed, fight for racial equality,
    and champion social reform.
        The United States continues to draw strength and vision from our
    multicultural, multiracial society. As we celebrate Saint Patrick's Day
    once again, we remember with special pride the gifts of Irish Americans:
    faith in God, lilt and laughter, love of family and community, and an
    unswerving commitment to freedom and justice that continues to enrich
    our nation.
        Best wishes to all for a wonderful celebration.

                                                                Bill Clinton