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It was a great day for the
I R I S H !!!
With Matthew as MC and Laura Monaghan Brent on deck we launched an Irish tradition at Pearl Harbor. Arguably the best IRISH Celebration "ever" in any direction for 2400 miles!! Rehearsed and executed my Hawaiian friends who are ALL Irish this month of March...really. At 0600 the 26th annual Irish Sprint was launched with teams from all branches competing for the coveted Commandant's Trophy. Bagpipers and WWII military vehicles graced the area near the USS ARIZONA Marine Remembrance. ( see www.PearlHarborVisitorCenter.com ) the 10 K 6.2 mile course ran from the Marine Flags to the Ford island Bridge and around Ford Island and back to PHVC. 100% of the gross revenues from the race and the evening affair went to Armed Services YMCA for Marine families and Navy League.
I R I S H SPRINT
Pictures ......
Evening P H O T O S ......
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8Acs2bJq1cNFEGM .... and the Gunner Tripped the Light Fantastic W O W the evening was worthy of the anticipation it garnered. Matthew Mylly O'Kangas as Master of Ceremonies was a Ten .... Bill Bigelow was as George Patton awesome ... brought down the house a k a Expeditionary ONE / The Tent The tent was luminescent with over 29,000 green small lights with shamrocks in abundance (like heaven must look) with WWII microphones and movies in background all vis s vis the operations of Gunner Ira Calkins and under the direction of Colonel J. R. Bates to managed the entire weekend like a Leader of Marines. Followed by a show featuring an Irish Skit involving a Japanese WWII spy and a polo presented to Father Pat which featured the Andrew Sisters as was as commentary and humor Matthew O'Myllykangas (USMA '95) who was a phenomenal Master of Ceremonies. The 26th annual Calvert Cup ( billiards) was won by the Marine Band Bugler The Marine Band feasted on the LEB Chili and Chef Francois Pizza in the Hooch area of PHVC post concert. Miss Brent stole the show in a stunning floor length dark green silk dress. The same silk creation her mother Christine had worn 21 years prior on same Irish Day in San Francisco's City Hall Rotunda Dome. (shown on video) Dr. Diane Wiley and son John traveled from the World's Greatest City to survey the event...ooor rah !! __________________________ plus a worthy read Irish Immigrants in America During the 19th Century Though life in Ireland was cruel, emigrating to America was not a joyful event... It was called the American Wake because these Irish natives knew they would never see their homeland again. Those who pursued this path did so only because they knew their future in Ireland would only be continued poverty, disease, and English oppression. America became their dream - their vision of possibilities. Early immigrant letters described it as a land of abundance and urged others to follow them through the "Golden Door". These letters were read at social events meant to encourage the young to join them in this awe-inspiring new country of America. They left in droves on ships that were so crowded, with conditions so terrible, the vessels were known as Coffin Ships.
Even as the boat was docking, these newcomers learned
that life in America was going to be a struggle for survival. Hundreds of
runners, usually large greedy men, swarmed aboard the ship, grabbed
passengers and their bags, forced them to their favorite tenement house,
then exacted an outrageous fee for their services. Since the poor immigrant
had no means to move on, they settled in the port of arrival. Almshouses
were filled with these Irish pilgrims. They begged on every street. One
honest settler wrote home at the height of the potato famine exodus,
"My master is a great tyrant, he treats me as badly as if I was a
common Irishman." The writer further added, "Our position in
America is one of shame and poverty." No group was considered lower
than an Irishman in America during the 1850s.
Free land did not lure them. They rejected the land
because the land had rejected them; even so, they always spoke reverently of
the old sod in Ireland. All major cities had their "Irish Town" or
"Shanty Town" where the Irish clung together. Our immigrant
ancestors were not wanted in America. Ads for employment often were followed
by "NO IRISH NEED APPLY." They were forced to live in cellars and
shanties with no plumbing or running water. These living conditions bred
sickness and early death. It was estimated that 80% of all infants born to
Irish immigrants in New York City died. Their brogue and dress provoked
ridicule; their poverty and illiteracy provoked contempt.
The Chicago Post wrote, "The Irish fill our prisons and our poor houses. Scratch a convict or a pauper and the chances are that you tickle the skin of an Irish Catholic. Putting them on a boat and sending them home would end crime in this country." Instead of apologizing for themselves, they united and took offense. Insult or intimidation was often met with violence. Solidarity was their strength. They helped each other survive city life. They prayed and drank together.
The men seemed to do more drinking than praying, yet
it was their faith and dogged determination to become bonafide Americans
that led one newspaper to say, "The Irish have become more Americanized
than the Americans."
The Church played an integral part in their lives. It was a militant Church - a Church who fought not only for their souls but also for their human rights. After the religious riots in Philadelphia where many Catholic churches were burned, the mayor of New York asked Archbishop Hughes, "Do you fear that some of your churches will be burned?" "No sir, but I am afraid some of yours will be. We can protect our own."
Later, public officials asked the Archbishop to
restrain New York's Irish. "I have not the power," he said.
"You must take care that they are not provoked." No Catholic
church burned in New York.
Actually, the Irish arrived at a time of need for America. The country was growing and it needed men to do the heavy work of building bridges, canals, and railroads. It was hard, dangerous work. A common expression heard among the railroad workers was "An Irishman is buried under every tie." Desperation drove them to these jobs. Not only did the men work, so did the women. They became chambermaids, cooks, and the caretakers of children. Early Americans scorned this type of work, fit only for servants, the common sentiment being, "Let Negroes be servants, and if not Negroes, let Irishmen fill their place..." The Blacks didn't take kindly to the Irish and it appeared to be a mutual feeling.
A prominent hotel keeper was asked why all the women
servants in his hotel were Irish. He replied, "It's very simple: the
Irish girls are industrious, willing, cheerful, and honest. They work hard
and they are very strictly moral. I should say that is quite reason
enough."
The Irish were unique among immigrants. They fiercely loved America but never gave up their allegiance to Ireland... and they retained their disdain for the English. Twice they tried to invade Canada, believing that they could trade Canadian land for Ireland's freedom. In New York City during the Civil War, they rioted against the draft lottery after the first drawing showed most of the names were Irish. For three days the city was terrorized by Irish mobs and only after an appeal for peace by Archbishop Hughes did it end. In Pennsylvania, they formed a secret organization called the Molly Maguires to fight mine owners who brutalized the miners and their families. They ambushed mine bosses, beat, and sometimes killed them in their homes.
The Irish used brutal methods to counter brutal
oppression. They loved America and gladly fought in her wars. During the
Civil War, they were fierce warriors and formed, among other groups, the
famous "Irish Brigade". Accompanied by a priest, they would pray
together before charging into the enemy - even against insurmountable odds.
Their faith guided them. They felt the English might have a better life on
earth, but they were going to have a better life after death.
The days of "No Irish Need Apply" passed. The St. Patrick's Day Parade replaced volatile confrontations. The Irish not only gained acceptance for their day but persuaded everyone else to become Irish, at least for St. Patrick's Day. The Orangemen of New York City copied the St. Pat's Day Parade in 1870 and, as they marched, played "Boyne Water", "Derry", and other songs derogatory toward the Catholics. Brawls broke out and only the police (themselves mostly Irish) saved the Orangemen and women. The following year another Orange parade was scheduled. The police banned it.
The appearance of large numbers of Jews, Slavs, and
Italian immigrants led many Americans to consider the Irish an asset; their
Americanization was finally recognized. Hostility shifted from the Irish to
the new nationalities. Through poverty and subhuman living conditions, the
Irish tenaciously clung to each other. With their ingenuity for
organization, they were able to gain power and acceptance.
In 1850 at the crest of the influx of Potato Famine refugees, Orestes Brownson, a celebrated convert to Catholicism, stated: "Out of these narrow lanes, dirty streets, damp cellars, and suffocating garrets will come forth some of the noblest sons of our country whom she will delight to own and honor." In little more than a century his prophecy rang true. Irish-Americans had moved from the position of the despised, to the oval office. _____________________________________________________ May the Irish hills caress you. May her lakes and rivers bless you. May the luck of the Irish enfold you. May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you. All in one Irish Special day .... 17 March 1942 Be there ... Be Irish everyone is that day !!! Erin go bragh ! |
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