Rockland St. Patrick's Day Parade Canceled

PEARL RIVER, NY — The Rockland County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced that this year's parade has been canceled. The second-largest St. Patrick's parade in New York, this one is also a victim of the new coronavirus — New York's outbreak is the largest in the U.S.A.

Parade organizers said they worried about the local nonprofits and businesses that will be hurt financially, as the parade is an economic boon, and the honorees who deserved public recognition.

"One of our greatest sorrows is the lost opportunity to pay just recognition to the accomplishments that Irish American men and women have made to our community, accomplishments that are so often overlooked. This year’s parade was dedicated to Thomas and Daniel Foley, brothers who grew up in Rockland and were killed during 9/11; Tommy on the day and Dan only a few weeks ago due to 9/11 related cancer contracted while searching for his brother’s body." the organizers wrote. "In the absence of St. Patrick’s day parade coverage, we would ask for our public leaders and the media to consider publicly reflecting on the contributions of Irish Americans to our nation."

Also, they said, "There are the countless hours that volunteers have spent organizing the parade, which begins the week after the prior year’s parade. Finally, for many families this is a day of gathering, celebrating, and reminiscing on where they came from and the lost opportunity to create those memories cannot be replaced."

The honorees named for the 2020 parade:

• Grand Marshal: Frank McDonagh
• Rockland Aide to the Grand Marshal: Lillian Murphy
• Parade Commander: Sergeant Deirdre Smith-Withers
• Hibernian Businessman of the Year: Edmund Hartnett
• Hibernian of the Year: Fergal Hayes

The committee said "It has been both distressing and disappointing to see comments on social media advocating for the cancellation of the parade as if it were of no more significance than a child’s play-date. For those who question why it has taken this long to reach a decision to cancel the parade, we are reminded of the famous quote of Louie Armstrong 'If you have to ask the question, you’ll never understand the answer.'

"We ask the intercession of St. Patrick to deliver our communities safely from this illness."

More On Coronavirus:

• Coronavirus United States: Updates For Thursday, March 12
• To Avoid Coronavirus, Americans Over 60 Should Hunker Down: CDC

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