Green eggs and ham; green tattoos; the center line of main Street - renamed Brendan Gill Boulevard, painted green and thousands of cheering enthusiasts brought yet another epic St. Patrick's Day to Nutley and Essex County Saturday.
This is the 36th annual year for this epic parade, and kids, adults, non-profits of every type marched proudly with marching bands, the police, the Nutley rescue squad and more.
Some say this is the first parade of the season, and they are right. As for this reporter, I always say it's also the best. The ecstatic marchers, that perfectly green inspired small town walk and the mix of people of all cultures along the parade route in Nutley offer a true slice of Americana for one and all.
This is a parade that does not disappoint!
This year, the parade dignitaries were Grand Marshal Brendan Gill, who is an Essex County Freeholder; Deputy Grand Marshal Carl Thunell; Member of the Year Mike Frobose, and Parade Queen Alyson Rose Ridings.
Grand Marshall Brendan Gill, who is always on hand to support the Nutley parade, said he was thrilled not only to lead the parade but also to see Franklin Avenue named after him - which is quite an achievement, even for one day.
“It’s a true honor and one of the highest honors you can receive as a member of the Irish American community,” noted Gill. “To be asked serve as a grand marshall at a St. Patricks Day parade in Nutley and to be honored particularly in the township of Nutley and by the Nutley Irish American Association is wonderful.”
The history of the Nutley St. Patrick's Day Parade is as rich and diverse as America itself. Truly born out of a multi-national sense of comrade and pride that grew between Italians and Irish Nutley residents, this parade has blossomed yet protected the nature of it's cross cultural roots alive and well.
In 1978 resident Richie Clark said he wanted to start the parade. Two young men, Joe "Muggs" McGuiness and Paul Denkinger, ran with Clark’s notion and told Judge Robert Citrino. Turned out Citrino grew up with a dad who adored parades, and this Irish dream became a multi-national reality on March 17, 1978 during the first “unofficial” St. Patrick’d Day parade in Nutley.
Now, with over 1,000 participants and wide green smiles that melted the snow, this was yet again a parade to be relished.
Congratulations to Nutley, all the organizations and many bag-pipers and charitable organizations that proudly marched in this parade.
