Remembering PopPop at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Morristown

1

By Erin Reeve

I call “shenanigans” how I became involved behind the scenes on the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. Don’t get me wrong, though. I am happy that shenanigans were pulled.

Rich Smith, and others who frequented my place of employment, had been nudging me for a few months to come and find out what the committee was all about.

Finally, I caved in and said that I would attend a meeting. It was then that shenanigans happened. I had thought that I would go to a meeting after the 2009 parade had passed. Ease my way into volunteering for the 2010 parade, but NO!

Rich got me to the SECOND TO LAST meeting before the 2009 parade, where I was assigned a post as a Marshal and instructed to report to the Orientation Meeting… Before I knew it, I was in a parking lot to get fire engines in the correct order.

Please click icon below for captions

Despite the fact that I had figured on joining the Parade Committee for the NEXT parade to start at the beginning of the process and not in the middle of a mad dash to the end, I had a lot of fun.

I was happy to be thrown into the middle of the controlled chaos of the municipal parking lot, trying to somehow assist in getting over 3000 people in the correct order and out the driveway to march ON TIME! It was loud, noisy and exciting.

When we were all finished with our duties, I met up with the rest of my family. It was then that it was pointed out I had never missed a parade since the year I was born. My first parade day, I was less than two months old. My grandfather had me bundled up in a stroller, pushing me up and down the parade route of downtown Wharton.

erin reeve
Erin Reeve, pictured in 2010, is a waitress and swim coach who will be entering the Navy this summer, following in the footsteps of her late grandfather, Paul McKenna Sr. 'PopPop,' as she called him, also was deputy chief in the Morris County Prosecutor's Office.

Every year after the parade is over, my family is invited to a post parade party that is as old as our parade itself. We look forward to this tradition of visiting with family, friends and acquaintances, many of whom I see almost only on Parade Day.

It was here that another fact was brought to my attention. My grandfather, or PopPop as I called him, had attended every parade since it had started in Wharton in 1979 until his death in May of 1991.

PopPop had held out that last year to make it through one more season of green, and have the chance to march in the parade the first year it was moved to Morristown.

In 1985, I joined him as a spectator. In 1986, PopPop marched with the newly formed Morris County Chapter of the Emerald Society, and I joined him via stroller. Eventually, I would toddle the entire route. In 1987, my brother Dan joined PopPop and me in marching for his first parade, he too not even two months old.

While visiting with everyone and laughing over stories of the past, my mom reflected that once I was born PopPop turned Parade Day into a family day. He wanted to show off his first granddaughter and his daughter and her husband.

From 1985 on, my family has always made sure to keep the day of the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade open. We have even laid stake to our own spot on the parade route, like so many other families that attend on a yearly basis.

After PopPop’s death, Dan and I stopped marching, but we still religiously attend the parade. It’s how my family remembers our PopPop and his love of all things Irish.

Now, years later, I find myself involved in the parade again. This time, I’m on the committee and behind the scenes, which I find much preferable to marching.

I can’t help but get a warm feeling inside with the thought that by volunteering and doing my small part to spread the parade’s message of sharing Irish culture and spirit with one’s family and friends, it’s my own personal way of remembering one of the most important people to have ever touched my life: My PopPop.

(But this is just my motivation to volunteer. We need more volunteers. Hint. Hint.)

Although he was only around for a short while, PopPop left a lasting impression on me. PopPop taught me right from wrong; how to dial and talk to the 911 operator properly (at just barely 5, that was impressive); that Saturday mornings were meant for sleep and, more importantly, CARTOONS; parking garages were not safe; I should NEVER talk to strangers (although… if HE heard a brogue, then it was okay for PopPop to talk to them FOREVER! He loved listening to anyone with a brogue); and that bagpipes are actually considered music, so I shouldn’t cry.

Now I know that PopPop snuck in many more lessons, but at the time when I was little, those were the most important to me.

I used to connect with PopPop by attending the parade and now I feel like we are even closer by helping with the parade.

But I am just one of many people who work tirelessly behind the scenes. I don’t even do that much compared to everyone I have met. There are many that do much more. They go above and beyond, always striving to make sure that each year’s parade brings the best possible experience for the community.

It wasn’t until my second year that I learned that the parade was not just about one day a year of fun and merriment, but also about reaching out and giving back to the community.

Morris County’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is backed by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick (FSSP) and the Irish American Association of Northwest Jersey (IAANJ) along with the Parade Committee and the Finance Committee.

It is through their combined efforts that  donations are raised to not only put on the parade but also to give charitable donations to groups within our community.

Before volunteering, I had thought the parade was Morristown’s. I didn’t know  that it’s for all of Morris County; it is a fairly common misconception. I also did not know that the entire cost of the parade was raised by the joint efforts of the many committees.

The Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade is funded solely through private contributions and sponsors. It still amazes me that no town, county, or state money is used for the set up, safety, or clean-up for the parade.

This year, the Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be on March 12th, starting at noon sharp. The route begins outside the municipal building and heads down South Street, around the Green to Washington, and ends at Atno.

The parade will be bursting with over 3000 people marching (not to mention the numerous animals). There will be 20 bands, 15 floats, and 67-plus assorted vehicles. Other highlights include Grand Marshal Willie Quinn, Scooby Doo and the Mystery Machine, the New York Liberty’s Mascot and Dancers, and, OF COURSE, our local pipe and drums with some excellent step dancing.

Hope to see you all enjoying your time with us on March 12th. Don’t look at this as just a parade, but make the day an excuse to meet up with friends or family members that now live in other towns.

Start a tradition, as my family and others have, of enjoying the parade and Irish culture in each other’s company. The Irish are a social and giving people, so in the Irish spirit reconnect and share over a background of pipes and drums.

A World of wishes at your command
God and His Angels close at hand
Friends & Family, their Love impart
And Irish Blessings in your Hearts

–An Irish Proverb

READ MORE ABOUT THE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE


1 COMMENT

  1. wonderful. we all get out for the same feeling good and having a great day with the irish. I grew up in Southern California, we did not have a St. Patricks Day Parade, we went to local Irish Pubs with Irish Music. I have been on Radio for many years and St. Patricks Day has always one of the best days of the year. My father would always call in to the Radio Show and sing Irish Eyes are Smiling I joined the Parade Comittee when it came to Morristown, the mayor Norman asked me to be his apointee as I am Irish, I am Chef Melody Mcginley Whitelaw I own The Main Event by Melody a Catering and Party Business in Morristown in fact my buildings are at the end of the Parade Route . My Irish. Grandfather Frank McGinley was Police Chief in .L.A. California in the 1930’s….He would be proud to see me on the Parade Comittee ,see you at the PARADE, When our Irish Eyes will be Smiling……..Chef Melody

LEAVE A REPLY