Saint Pat's Ocean View
Celebration has been around since we were kids, watching it from "Johnson's
Square" near the OV
Golf Course. This year's will likely yield more than 50,000 revelers for the 35th
annual Knights of Columbus Parade in Ocean View on Saturday, the closest to the 17th,
particularly if the weather has been kissed by a leprechaun. It's said to be
one of the East Coast's largest, with 200+ floats and a dozen or so high school and
military marching bands. You gotta' see Booker T. and Norview do battle: they
ROCK! (Granby, we're rootin' for ya').
The parade is more than a rite of Spring, it's essentially the time OV patriots
'come home' or 'come out' like toasty groundhogs regardless the time away or
weather. Only once in memory was the parade cancelled due to weather: this last
decade, likely due to a jealous El Niño
since it's a day when everyone wants to be Irish!
Ed O'Hara, (an OV-familiar name, before Maddog's) helped
organize the first parade in 1968; and dear Ernie Morgan (who
passed in '93 at 80) AKA 'the mayor of Ocean View' was also a booster of all
things community: we still have the kind Thank You note he wrote for an
article which appeared in the Compass,
agreeing with us for referring to Ocean View as an 'uncut gem' back in the 70's.
Other O'Luminaries have included (27th annual) Grand Marshal Thomas W. Moss
Jr., Norfolk Democrat and then speaker of the state House of Delegates; and last year
(34th) Judge Peter J. Decker proudly held
that post.
The Knights of Columbus is honored this year's Grand Marshall will be
Admiral William Fallon; there will be a party at O V Park with The Association
(remember "Cherish"?)... and the fab party at the Knights of Columbus Hall
(211 Government Ave.) which goes 'all out' with bands such as Big Fun and great
food.
At the Thirsty Camel
is a great choice too, this day only serving up steaming corned beef & cabbage. Of the stacks of photos over
the years. 
We only regret we can't put 'em all here.
Remember the year somebody rode a horse right inside Rosy's with a calling card?
Papa Joe & 'Commodore' ===>
Is your face here?
Do you recognize any mugs? Thats the real show: the crowd!
See more Ocean View IRISH: TOUR XI
