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WHEREAS, the Pittsburgh Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, sponsored by the Irish Society for Education and Charity Inc. and the St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee with Clearview Federal Credit Union as the Grand Marshall Sponsor, Gallagher Home Health Systems, Parise and Mabin Agency and Cleaveland Price as Green Level General Sponsors and Ford Motor Company as the Vehicle Sponsor, will be held on Saturday, March 15, 2014; and,
WHEREAS, The St. Patrick's Day Parade, first held in 1869 and occurring non-stop since 1950, has grown in size and splendor and now consists of thousands of enthusiastic Irish marchers and draws 150,000 plus spectators to downtown Pittsburgh, "all Irish for the day", and has become the oldest and largest parade in the City of Pittsburgh and the second largest St. Patrick's Day Parade in the United States; and,
WHEREAS, the magnificent St. Patrick's Day Parade celebrates Pittsburgh's Irish heritage and will feature 200 marching units, 18 bands, specialty acts, floats, politicians, police, fire and emergency service agencies and a host of Irish heritage groups. In addition, organizers will host an "Irish Fair in the Square", a no-alcohol event in Market Square featuring Irish music, street performers and face painting; and,
WHEREAS, in memory of an gorta Mor, "The Great Hunger" in 1847 in Ireland, the Pittsburgh St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee and the Ancient Order of Hibernians have joined with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to collect food for the less fortunate and asks marchers and watchers to bring non-perishable grocery items to 3 collection points along the parade route; and,
WHEREAS, the parade will begin at 10:00 AM at the Greyhound Bus Station, led by this year's Grand Marshall, Jack Goodrich, and will include "Miss Smiling Irish Eyes", Queen Ciara Scanlon Crossey, and her Court, Kathryn Conroy Bench and Kelsey Newcamp.
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NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend all of the organizers of and participants in the Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does, in honor of Pittsburgh's Irish community, hereby declares the week of March 10-17, 2014, to be "ST. PATRICK'S WEEK " in the City of Pittsburgh.