City to host ninth St. Pat's parade on March 15

bscarton@potomacnews.com

If Mother Nature cooperates with a nice, sunny day, upwards of 8,000 spectators are expected to line the streets of Old Town Manassas for the ninth annual Manassas St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 15 at 11 a.m.

The parade, which will include about 60 units, will start at the corner of Quarry Road and Prescott Avenue and proceed down Center Street, ending at the Loy E. Harris Pavilion, where a judges' stand will be erected.

Parade watchers can enjoy such crowd pleasers as the Northern Virginia Firefighters Emerald Society Pipe and Drum, Washington Scottish Pipe and Drum, Fairfax County Sheriff's Coalition Pipe and Drum and the Washington Regional Police Pipe and Drum Corps, along with the Marine Corps Color Guard.

Also featured will be Irish dance groups, Ancient Order of Hibernians Division, and other area groups and organizations celebrating the grand Irish tradition of the Feast of St. Patrick.

Retired Army Col. John J. "J.J." Kelly has been selected as the grand marshal. He has actively been involved with both the Manassas and Alexandria St. Patrick's Day Parade and Irish Festival. He was the secretary of the Ballyshaners, organizers of the Alexandria Parade held last weekend, for six years and now serves as Web master and executive secretary.

This year's parade is being dedicated to the late Lt. Bob Bagshaw of the Manassas Police Department, who was instrumental in helping the parade committee get organized.

"It's a really fun parade for the entire family and the local businessmen love it because it brings a lot of people into town and into their shops and restaurants," said Russ Keating, chairman.

According to Vince Fitzpatrick, publicity chairman, in January 1999, the brothers of the Father Kelley Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians contemplated staging a St. Patrick's Day Parade for the residents of Manassas -- rather than have them drive into Alexandria or Washington, D.C.

"We were very proud of our Irish heritage and wanted to share it with the community," Fitzpatrick said. "We worked for the next 15 months to put on the inaugural St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 18, 2000."

Due to the overwhelming support from the community and the success of the inaugural parade, the organizers incorporated as a nonprofit organization for future parades. They took the name of "Inisfail" from an ancient, pre-Christian name for Ireland that signifies Isle of Destiny.

Providing support through the years was the George Brent Council of the Knights of Columbus, which opened its council home and its checkbook to the parade committee to put on a successful parade.

Upward of 30 volunteers help on parade day, setting up the units and making sure the parade moves smoothly through the city. It takes about one and one-half hours to pass a given point.

Sen. Charles J. Colgan, D-Manassas, was the inaugural parade chairman, and a local dignitary, usually of Irish descent, is selected each year by the parade committee to ride in an open convertible.

Last year's event was marred by rain, but organizers are hopeful for better weather this year. Many spectators dress up in Irish green for the parade and party as it moves through the city.

"We want to keep the parade to no more than one and one-half hours and want all the units to be entertaining to the crowds along the route," Keating concluded.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707 or bscarton@potomacnews.com.