Be Positive, Be Safe – Enjoy

Andrew Square. The Parade will end around 4 p.m. Over 150 units totaling 4,000 participants are scheduled to march. Depending upon the weather, nearly a million spectators might possibly show up.

Mayor Wu, Police Commissioner Cox, and South Boston’s elected officials met with the police organizations who are responsible for 2023 Parade safety. Basically, they were quite optimistic about maintaining order along the Parade route and keeping the anticipated crowds of spectators completely orderly. The MBTA’s Police Superintendent promised safe transit to everyone attending the Parade; officials from the Massachusetts State Police confirmed their role in helping Boston Police on Parade Day.

A special point was made of handling and neutralizing all disruptive groups attending the parade. Like all of us, they have freedom of speech in America, so we suggest ignoring them –law enforcement officers will see that they “keep the peace”.

Police Commissioner Cox was quoted as saying, “We will not allow public drinking at the Parade. It won’t be tolerated.”

We had a brief, in-person meeting with Commissioner Cox. He responded to our questions by confirming his plans for Sunday and their expected effect. He was highly confident that the Parade will be a totally safe event. We wish him and his officers maximum success this weekend.

We Also spoke with Parade officials led by Susan McDonough, who is the Commander of the South

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Boston Allied War Veterans Council. The SBAWVC has been responsible for the Parade for the past 75 years. Susan and her competent staff assured us that the Parade this year will be focused on the wellbeing of the residents of South Boston, especially those with families and children. The SBAWVC fully realizes that South Boston’s residents are the key people who both permit and welcome the Parade every year. To this end, Parade officials have created three family-friendly safe areas this year. Dorchester Heights around the Evacuation Day monument is one of these areas. Families and their children can view the Parade from the grass on the Heights – safely and securely. A second familyfriendly area will be located at M Street/Medal of Honor Park. If they want, kids can run and play around the park well away from the busy Parade route on East

Michael Donovan to Receive Award for Public Service

college tuition so he took a job as a messenger at the Court House in Pemberton Square now known as the John Adams Court House, and as they say the rest was history.

In 1976, Michael Joseph Donovan won a nine-way Democratic primary for the down-ballot job of Suffolk Superior Court Clerk for Civil Business. He was the youngest person ever elected to the position, and over the next forty-six years and eight elections, he faced few opponents.

Former Clerk of the Civil Courts Michael Donovan to Receive the John McCormack Award for Public Service

South Boston Citizens’ Association President Tom McGrath and the Executive Board has announced the Association’s 2023 recipient of the John W McCormack Award. The 2023 Shamrock Awards will be presented to Michael Donovan for 46 years as Clerk of superior Civil Court, the longest serving official. This award will be presented at the 143rd Annual Evacuation Day Banquet to be held on March 17th, 2023 at the South Boston Convention Center.

Born in the Old colony Housing Development in South Boston, he spent 7 years there before moving to Savin Hill with his family. He attended BC High and Graduated in 1960.Mike was unable to afford

“It’s an honor for the Association to recognize Mike for the McCormack Award for his commitment , dedication, professionalism and fairness he brought to the Court System.” Said President Tom McGrath.

This award along with the Shamrock awards will be presented at the Association’s 143rd Annual Evacuation Day Banquet, to be held this Friday evening, March 17th, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, with a 5:30PM Cocktail hour and a Corned Beef Dinner served at 7:00PM.

A host of special invited Dignitaries are expected to attend this year’s banquet. Curragh’s Fancy will provide the entertainment. McGrath cautioned that tickets are being purchased at a good pace, with so many of South Boston’s most valued community leaders receiving awards. I urge those that are planning to attend to act fast. For information on tickets call Tom McGrath at 857-204-5825.

Broadway. The third familyfriendly area will be on the corner of D Street. TD Bank has been kind enough to volunteer their parking lot for this purpose. In addition, several food trucks will be located near the Parade route on Sunday afternoon.

The SBAWVC has also arranged for 200 portable toilets to be placed along the Parade route, which means there’ll be a nearby “potty” every 150 feet or so available for spectators to use. Not only will this be convenient, it will also go a long way toward preventing the disgusting abuses of South Boston’s side streets that have occurred all too often during previous Parades. In addition, our discussions with the SBAWVC have convinced us that the 2023 Parade will be very enjoyable (as well as safe!). The Parade’s emphasis will be musical – 17 marching bands and 13 live music floats. So while you are watching the 2023 Parade, please be positive, be safe, and enjoy!

Washington Delegation to Join Senator Collins at St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey and U.S. Representatives Stephen F. Lynch and Ayanna Pressley will join host Sen. Nick Collins Sunday, March 19th at the Annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast at the Ironworkers Local 7 Hall in South Boston

The Washington delegation joins a roster that also includes Gov. Maura Healey, who is appearing for the first time as governor, Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, and Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden, State Rep. David Biele, Boston City Council President Edward Flynn and Boston City Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty.

The breakfast will be held Sunday, March 19th before a live audience from 9 a.m.-noon in the Ironworkers Local 7 union hall at 195 Old Colony Ave. in South Boston. Live stream on Boston Neighborhood Network, Caught in Southie’s Instagram live and local broadcast and and WROL Irish Radio

May luck be our companion

May friends stand by our side

May history remind us all

Of Ireland’s faith and pride

May God bless all with happiness

May love and faith abide.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Congressman & Mrs.

Stephen F. Lynch and family

Upcoming Sbca Events

Boxing Show

Saturday, March 18th

Peter Welch’s Gym - Doors open at 4:00 p.m.

143rd Annual Evacuation Day Banquet

Friday, March 17th

BCEC 2nd Floor Ballroom

Reception 5:30 p.m. - Dinner 7:00 p.m. FOR TICKETS CALL 857-204-5825

St. Patrick’s Day Road Race

Sunday, March 19th

Race begins at 11:00 a.m. at the Boys & Girls Club

Pre-registration Required (617-516-5441)

Evacuation Day Memorial Mass

Friday, March 17th - St. Augustine’s Chapel - 9:00

Memorial/Historical Exercises

Friday, March 17th - Dorchester Heights Monument - 11:00

St. Patrick’s/Evacuation Day Parade

Sunday, March 19th at 1:00 p.m. Broadway Station

The 2023 Parade Chief Marshal’s Banquet

by Rick Winterson

The celebrations and observances connected with the South Boston “Season” continue, as the St. Patrick’s/ Evacuation Day Parade approaches. Recognition and remembrance of South Boston’s military veterans is the most important underlying theme that leads up to the Parade. The Parade itself has always prominently included veterans in its line of march. In fact, veterans are members of the organization that plans the Parade – the South Boston Allied War Veterans Council (the SBAWVC).

A key veterans’ event took place which was the 2023 Annual Chief Marshal’s Banquet, which is given by the SBAWVC each year. It honored Coleman Nee, a veteran and the Chief Marshal of the 2023 Parade, which steps off at 1 p.m.

next Sunday, March 19. Nee is an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps; he was deployed into action in Iraq and Kuwait. He has continued his involvement in veterans’ affairs as the Secretary of Veterans Services in Massachusetts until 2015, and as National 2nd Jr. VP for Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

More than 200 people attended the Chief Marshal’s Banquet, including Susan McDonough, Commander of the SBAWVC and in overall charge of Sunday’s Parade, and Greg Lally, the newly elected 2023 “Mayor of Southie”. Tommy Lyons, a Marine veteran himself and currently a member of the Governor’s Veterans Advisory Council, served as the Banquet’s Master of Ceremonies. The Banquet actually consisted of an excellent corned-beef and cabbage feast held in the Lithuanian Club Hall on West Broadway.

At the end of the ceremonies, Nee received from Susan McDonough and Tommy Lyons a skillfully created American flag that was hand-crafted from wood – a real work of art. He then expressed his sincere gratitude for being named 2023 Parade Chief Marshal. Coleman Nee now joins a select line of Parade Chief Marshals that extends all the way back to the first Parade in 1901.