Public Employee Press

Irish Heritage Committee joins in St. Patricks Day parade

Members of DC 37's Irish Heritage Committee marched in the St. Patrick's Day parade March 17 after celebrating their ethnic pride at the union March 9, and raising money with sales of tea, soda bread and commemorative mugs on March 16.

Committee Co-chair Bernadette O'Leary Enzmann, her husband, and committee member John Minervini walked up Fifth Avenue behind a banner honoring James Connolly, the great Irish socialist revolutionary, who was executed because of his leadership role in the 1916 Easter Rising for independence from England. He is known for saying, "The great appear great because we are on our knees. Let us rise!"

"It was a marvelous day for the 251st St. Patrick's Day Parade and a great day to be Irish," Enzmann said.