To the Editor:

In 1991 our U.S. Congress proclaimed March as Irish-American Heritage Month. With approximately 33 million, or 10 percent, of the U.S. residents who claim Irish ancestry, this affords a large pool of happy celebrants for events associated with this month’s commemoration.

Cities such as New York, Boston, Chicago, and Savannah, Georgia have huge St. Patrick’s Day parades with very large spectator attendance. Other smaller cities have celebrations with their parades, civic, social, and religious events.

With the ending of winter it seems appropriate that we all come out and celebrate with our Irish-American family, friends, neighbors and all others who enjoy parades, music, dance, and lifting a toast for a warm friendship to all who attend.

Slainte to all and a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day especially to all our men and women in Law Enforcement and Fire and Rescue who serve and protect us 24/7. They truly deserve our respect for their dedicated service by applauding them when marching by in full uniform in the many parades throughout our country on this day.

Bob Sweeney

Warwick