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100 grand marshals will lead St. Patrick’s parade
BOARDMAN
Instead of one grand marshal, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade will have 100.
The Rev. Edward Noga of St. Patrick Church and 99 parish members will lead the 33rd annual Mahoning Valley St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The parade begins at 1 p.m. next Sunday on Market Street. It will proceed north on Market Street from McClurg Road to Southwoods Avenue.
St. Patrick Church is celebrating 100 years on Youngs-town’s South Side this year.
“We though it was apropos to invite them,” said Joyce Kale-Pesta, parade president.
Pesta said the parade will last two hours and feature 117 groups, including local high-school bands.
In front of the parade, 100 parishioners of St. Patrick Church in rows of 10 will each wear a T-shirt with a year on it from 1911 to 2011, said Father Noga.
“People have been purchasing them based on significant years in their life, like when their parents got married,” said the priest, who will wear his birth year, 1949.
The church has been involved with the parade since its start 33 years ago, and it continues to bring awareness to St. Patrick, he said.
“I think especially in this country, it’s reminding ourselves of [St. Patrick’s] missionary spirit. His willingness to go out of his own territory. We leave the old behind, not condemning it, and strike out for something new,” Father Noga said.
Between 25,000 and 30,000 Valley residents are expected to attend this year’s parade. The theme is “Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.”
The Ockerman Award recipient is Edward Maloney Sr., and the Lord Mayor of Kilkenny is Henry Nemenz. The Bill Cleary Award will be presented to the Boardman Township trustees, and the Patrick Chrystal Youth Award will be presented to Christine Kerrigan.
The parade is sponsored by Mahoning Valley Irish Organizations, 21 WFMJ-TV and The Vindicator.