The photograph shows Tabasum and her brother Imran – young scholars at Garfield Elementary School at the last St. Patrick’s Day parade we attended – decked in green -- three years ago on March 17, 2018 – which was a Saturday.

 

Attending the 176th anniversary parade meant – arriving using public transportation -- well ahead of time -- to get a good viewing spot along the parade route on Superior Avenue in downtown Cleveland – heavily bundled up for the generally very cold weather – and then as the parade started – watching nearly 10,000 participants in 125 units – waving, dancing, beating on the drums, blowing trumpets, playing all sorts of musical instruments -- roll by, for about two hours – one by one -- in one endless visual river of green – the parade Grand Marshall, Parade Committee, public officials, Cleveland Police, Coast Guard, United Service Organizations, Cleveland Fire and Ancient Order of Hibernians, Cuyahoga County Sheriffs Office, Cleveland Metroparks, East Side Irish American Club, the Notre Dame Cathedral Latin High School band, the West Side Irish American Club. Lake Erie Crushers, and just about every notable local organization and many local and suburban school bands.

 

My late wife was from Derry (Northern Ireland) – we moved here from New York City in 2001 – and attended many St. Patrick’s Day parades in both cities – all memorable events.

 

Looking forward to attending the next one!