Hamilton celebrates delayed St. Patrick’s Day

HAMILTON » Hundreds of people camped along Mercer Street and Nottingham Way to celebrate Irish culture Saturday afternoon.

The 2018 Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in Hamilton kicked off exactly one week after the namesake holiday, but the event was originally supposed to take place March 10 until inclement weather intervened.

“Thankfully the snow did not win this time,” Madison Paternostro, the Steinert High School senior serving as 2018 Miss Saint Patrick, said Saturday in her opening remarks. “I am so proud to be the 2018 Miss Saint Patrick.”

Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede served as grand marshal of the parade and paid homage to all of the past grand marshals who preceded her. “I am truly honored to be a part of this great group,” she said. “Today we are Irish. Today we are here to celebrate the heritage, the culture and the dedication to this great country that was brought to us by those who have immigrated here and to all Irish-Americans that live in the best country in the world.”

Saturday’s parade featured

Minor League Baseball mascot Boomer of the Trenton Thunder and showcased the Nottingham High boys basketball squad in the

wake of the Northstars’ historic 2017-18 season that ended with them winning the Group III state championship and making an appearance

in the Tournament of Champions.

The theme of this year’s parade was a salute to U.S. military veterans. Miss St. Patrick runner up Emilia Siracusa, a senior at Villa Victoria Academy, sung the Star-Spangled Banner during the opening ceremonies, generating applause.

After performing the U.S. national anthem, Siracusa thanked everyone for coming out and said, “I hope we have a great parade

today.”

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, a longtime Republican congressman who represents Hamilton, also attended the parade. In opening remarks he talked about the legacy of Saint Patrick, calling him the “greatest saint in all of Christianity.”

Other elected officials in attendance included members of Hamilton Council, one Mercer County freeholder and all three state lawmakers who represent Hamilton.

The Trenton Ancient Order of Hibernians Pipe Band marches in the annual Hamilton Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 24, 2018.

The Nottingham High School marching band performs during the annual Hamilton Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday.

PHOTOS BY SULAIMAN ABDUR-RAHMAN - THE TRENTONIAN The 2017-18 Nottingham High School boys basketball Group III state champions cruise down Mercer Street as part of the annual Hamilton Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday.

Hamilton Mayor Kelly Yaede (left) serves as grand marshal of the 2018 Hamilton St. Patrick’s Day Parade as Hamilton Police Chief James Collins enjoys his last parade before retiring from the force.