By Jennifer Ersalesi
Photo credit Jennifer Mazone
The luck of the Irish fell upon Rutherford this past beautiful, sunny Saturday, March 1st as many groups from Rutherford and Bergen and Passaic counties marched down Park Ave in the Third Annual Rutherford Irish Association’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Members of the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, Sheriff’s Office, Essex County Emerald Society, and the Rutherford Irish American Association lead the parade. The Rutherford Irish Association Member of the Year, Marybeth O'Flanagan, marched alongside other RIAA members. Many of the fire departments in Rutherford and neighboring towns such as East Rutherford and Wallington also participated in the parade. Rutherford EMS of the Year, Michael Tarantino, marched with his wife Jane Tarantino. The Mayor and Council of Rutherford, as well as the Mayor and Council of East Rutherford, also participated in the parade. Firefighter of the Year, Craig Scott from Rescue 5, marched alongside the Rutherford Fire Department. Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, Captain Edward Nestor of Jersey City Police Department was also honored in the parade.
There were a number of bands such as the Newark Firefighter Band, Essex Shillelagh Pipe Band, Police Pipes and Drums of Bergen County, Bergen Irish Pipe Band, Tri-County Irish War Pipes, St. Columcile United Gaelic Pipeband, Passaic High School Marching Band, Pipes and Drums of Blue and Gold, Police Pipes and Drums of Morris County, and Jersey City Firefighters Pipes and Drums. Community groups were able to march in time with their drum cadences and songs.
Boy Scout Troop 168, Cub Scout Pack 166 and the Rutherford Girl Scouts wore their green and proudly represented their troops during the parade. Other community groups including the Junior Woman’s Club, Lion’s Club, Rutherford Top Dawgs, Rutherford Downhill Derby, and the Rutherford Swim Association also were included in the three contingents of the parade.
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