Rain Doesn’t Dampen Irish Celebration, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Goes Indoors

NORTH WILDWOOD – A steady mix of rain and mist settled over the city on the morning of March 14, as if a wind blew over from Ireland. Coming out from the community, Camden County, and from the far-flung corners of Philadelphia, those who dodged raindrops lent a new meaning the phrase “40 shades of green” as they entered North Wildwood Recreation Center.
Kilts, bagpipes, shamrock glasses, and innumerable hues of green filled the gymnasium. Members of the Anglesea Irish Society and the Ancient Order of Hibernians sported blue sweaters and emerald jackets while others, of all ages, chatted amongst themselves, creating a tapestry of green.
Both sides of the bleachers, against the back wall, were nearly full and the Gloucester City String Band sat in readiness under the scoreboard. Although the customary parade had to be cancelled due to weather conditions, Gloucester City String band, Camden County Irish Pipe and Drum Brigade, and the Second Street Irish Society brought the festivities indoors, setting the gym ablaze with pageantry and music.
Why celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? After all, North Wildwood calls the mainland of the U.S. home – why celebrate the life of a slave who tended sheep for an Irish chieftain over a millennium ago? Historians still quibble over where Patricius (St. Patrick’s name in Latin) came from exactly in ancient Britain; tradition points to England, but strong evidence suggests that the missionary was captured along the coast of Scotland or possibly Wales.
Regardless, young Patrick found himself prisoner of Irish raiders in the 400s, after the fall of the Roman Empire in 410 A.D. Until his 21st birthday, Patrick served an Irish chieftain, tending sheep and pigs among the rolling hills. After his escape, Patrick decided to return and present the message of Christianity to those who had enslaved him.
Mayor Patrick Rosenello further explained why celebrating St. Patrick’s Day here bears significance. “Today we celebrate our community, our culture, and in many in instances, our religion, and our country.” Rosenello went on to explain the ethnic and religious ties that many residents of North Wildwood share with Ireland. “You’d think with a mayor with a name like Patrick, we’d have better luck with the weather!” Rosenello joked before the ceremony officially began.
The ceremony could not begin until the arrival of Grand Marshal Kevin McCloskey, of Philadelphia. When McCloskey arrived, he was described as someone who “personified that love of our culture, our Irish heritage, and our community North Wildwood.”
McCloskey demonstrated his love for the U.S. by serving in the military in the face of danger: he lost both legs as a result. But McCloskey’s story did not end with loss. Today, he golfs, lives a normal life, and will soon take on the new role of husband. He was fitted with new legs upon his return to the U.S.
Rosenello summed up McCloskey’s spirit: “He (McCloskey) exemplifies, in my mind, the strength of the Irish heritage in our country.”
The introduction of the grand marshal was followed by the Irish national anthem by the Irish Pipe and Drum Brigade and later by the raising of the Irish flag. The tricolor of green, white and orange symbolizes the hope for peace that many share, on both sides of the Atlantic, for a peaceful Ireland. Conflict in Northern Ireland has passed into legendary tales in the collective American memory, but for many the memories are still real and raw.
Mike Wilson, president of the Anglesea Irish Society, said after the ceremony that the organization exists to promote their faith and the North Wildwood community through various fundraiser events. Both Wilson and McCloskey testified to the strength of North Wildwood by taking the ceremony indoors and proceeding as planned in spite of the weather. Special thanks was given to the North Wildwood Recreation Center.
After applause for the renditions of “O Danny Boy” and “Amazing Grace” (the latter played by the Second Street Irish Society of Philadelphia), Rev. Joseph Wallace of Notre Dame de la Mer Parish in Wildwood gave a benediction, borrowing from the words of St. Patrick himself.
Bagpipes and drums may have been the instruments of war, but March 14, they were instruments of peace, heralding stories of strength, determination, and courage by Irish immigrants who came to these shores. As Council President Salvatore Zampirri said, “today we are all Irish.”
To contact Rachel Rogish, email rrogish@cmcherald.com.