Explanation
Title
To declare March 17, 2007 St Patrick's Day in Columbus, Ohio.
Body
WHEREAS, for more than 100 years the Irish clans of Columbus have gathered on March 17, St. Patrick's Day, to celebrate their grand heritage by marching proudly through the streets of Downtown; and
WHEREAS, many of the strong men and women of earlier generations of those clans fled the forced starvation of the Great Hunger in Ireland to come to a new life with new opportunities in Columbus; and
WHEREAS, so many of those proud, defiant Irish faced economic, religious and social discrimination with heads held high and shoulders squared, especially on the day when they marched in honor of glorious St. Patrick; and
WHEREAS, those same Irish survived and prospered and built the infrastructure of Columbus and participated in the growth and leadership of Columbus through public service, business and industry; and
WHEREAS, on March 17th every year, as we march in reverence to the almighty and with pride of our heritage to join together in celebration and prayer, we remember the contributions of those who came before us and thank God for the good fortune to be Irish; and
WHEREAS, this year marks the 71st Anniversary of the founding of the Shamrock Club lead by President Brendan O'Reilly, moving the Club forward while honoring it's traditions; and
WHEREAS, we also realize that while Irish Americans like ourselves survive, prosper and celebrate, in Columbus and across the United States, our relatives and ancestors will celebrate our patron saint's day in Ireland in every county of that land, seeking in some instances the fortune and blessings which have been bestowed to us in the United States; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
That this Council does hereby declare March 17, 2007 as St. Patrick's Day.