By Paddy McCarthy
I have been asked to give these different events a mention in my Out&About as we come up to Thanksgiving Day so I could I not as these are announcements for the holiday season that can’t be ignored at this time of the year. Before that, I would like to wish all our readers and their families a very Happy Thanksgiving Day. Now I’m ready.
On Sunday, December 7th The County Cork B.P. & P. Association will be offering Irish Fare, with an Open Bar, after their General Membership meeting. On the same day they will be adding Maeve O’Mahoney (age 12) to their upcoming fundraiser. While visiting New York, Maeve experienced devastating health complications and suffered a stroke following spinal surgery. Diarmuid Connolly noted: “The Cork B.P. & P. Association stands with Maeve and her family during this extraordinarily difficult time. A fundraiser in her support will take place on Sunday, December 7th during our General Meeting in the Cork Hall. We welcome gift baskets and monetary donations for this meaningful cause. Tickets will also be available for purchase on the day of the event. On the following Sunday, December 14, the Cork Association will be holding their Children’s Christmas Party from 2 pm to 5 pm at Bantry Bay.
Now this should also interest you and I know it will: The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, AOH New York County Board, and the Friendly Sons of St Patrick Morris County, NJ will be hosting a Wreaths Across America ceremony at 12 noon sharp on Saturday December 13 in the South Cemetery with the entrance by the front of the Church on Mott Street. The Knickerbocker Grey’s will be providing the color guard. The Port Authority Police Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums and Armed Forces Association will provide bagpipers and an honor guard. All 4,900+ sites will simultaneously celebrate this event at 12 noon eastern standard time, being the start time.
Each veteran grave is given a wreath that is placed at their tombstone. The program has been fully financed by the owners of the farms in Maine, who produce these wreaths, and started this program.
As of this writing, there are over 3 million wreaths laid at the graves of these veterans each year. Many corporate sponsors are involved, and all the trucking to the 4,900+ sites is made possible because the trucking company donates its own trucks and drivers to this cause. Volunteers lay the wreaths. Please come out and join them at The Basilica. Please try and arrive by 11:30 am at the latest, as the ceremony will start sharp at 12 noon. Your family, neighbors and friends are welcome to join as well to honor those veterans who defended our great country. Please contact Bill Duggan at wcdugganjr@hotmail.com and Tom Beirne at tombeirne4@hotmail.com for more information and to coordinate any requests to speak or to present.
Here we go, with this message from AOH Myles Scully – Division #1 Yonkers: “Friendship, Unity, and Christian Charity is the AOH motto and we are always happy when we can deliver on this in the Yonkers community. Recently we made donations to several organizations that work hard every day to help others in need and pay it forward for future generations. All of this is made possible by generous contributions from our friends and supporters via our annual golf outing and other fundraising events. We appreciate you and are thankful for your continued support.”
Now here is another great event that happened last weekend. The Ancient Order of Hibernians Bronx County Board had their Annual Dinner Dance honoring, Denis Mulcahy, Project Children, Thomas Beirne, and Margaret Dixon, Irish Northern Aid. Special guest speakers were Kevin Brannigan and Jamie Goldrick, both top rated RTE Television documentary personalities. It all happened at Rory Dolan’s (890 McLean Avenue in the Bronx) and attracted a capacity audience.
I hope to see you again next week when I am Out&About about again.