IRISH EYES SMILING
People celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with parade
HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. » Despite the cold weather, hundreds of people filled Main Street in the village Saturday afternoon to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Even with temperatures in the low 30s and high winds, the celebration was still lively in downtown Hoosick Falls for the 27th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Organizers said this tradition began 27 years ago when local Irishmen Mike Conway and TJ Carmody were searching for a way to keep the Irish culture and history alive in the Hoosick area.
Lifelong Hoosick Falls resident Mal McGuire led this year’s parade as the grand marshal.
McGuire served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1971 and spent time in Germany while in the service. Mal married a local resident, Linda Delurey. They have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. McGuire served the state of New York as an a state employee from 1968 until 2002 where he used his knowledge, creativity and humor to advance the work of the state Department of Education. He also served the youth of Hoosick Falls by giving service to the youth center for more than 15 years.
For the first time ever the parade committee named Luke Hoag as its first- ever Junior Grand Marshall of the Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
“It feels good [to be the Junior Marshal],” 10-yearold Hoosick Falls resident Luke Hoag said, before the parade. “I am looking for-
“The weather is a little chilly but the streets are packed and everybody is having a good time… I’m Scottish and Irish, so this is our day, everybody is Irish today.” — Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin
ward to having fun and I want to make sure that everyone else here has fun too.”
The committee said it was bestowing the honor on Hoag because, despite all the difficulties he has faced in his young life, Luke is always thinking of and helping others.
When he was just 18 months old, Luke was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, and his and his family’s lives were forever changed. Doctor’s appointments, surgeries, chemotherapy and more, became part of Luke and his family’s lives. Through all of this, what stands out to Luke and the Hoag family is the generosity of others, especially the Hoosick Community.
When he was seven, Luke made a decision; it was time to give back. He insisted it was his turn to make sure that someone else with a life-threatening illness got to get their wish of a lifetime, and that’s exactly what he set out to do.
Working with Macy’s annual “Believe” campaign, Luke worked to raise money for the Foundation to make other kids’ dreams come true. Luke’s goal was to collect as many letters to Santa as possible, because he knew the “Believe” Campaign would provide up to a million dollars for kids based on how many letters were collected. He was thinking about the other kids.
Every year since, Luke has been leading the way, encouraging people who to the time out to write a letter to Santa and make someone’s wish become a reality. For every letter Luke passes on to Macy’s, they in turn donate to Make-A-Wish. Last Christmas, with the help of friends and fam- ily from all over the country, Luke collected almost 66,000 letters, which he and his family delivered to Macy’s NYC Headquarters on “Believe Day”, and the proceeds were doubled. Luke’s leadership, courage, tenacity, and huge heart raised $ 130,990.00 this last year alone, helping to make other young people’s lives brighter.
After the parade was complete, festivities continued at the following Irish Festival, held at various locations around the Village of Hoosick including in Wood Park. Celtic dancing, corned beef dinners and Irish beer were all part of the fun.
Residents and elected officials enjoy coming to the small village each year to enjoy a big parade.
“The parade is great and we have a lot of fun over here and we go to the bars afterwards and have a few beers,” said Troy resident Patrick O’Malley.
“It’s just great,” added Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin. “The weather is a little chilly but the streets are packed and everybody is having a good time… I’m Scottish and Irish, so this is our day, everybody is Irish today.”