To ALL , Here in the States, .....today is a day that if you ARE Irish you feel so proud to be and you wear green. And if you aren't you wear it wishing you were...! lol In fact everything is green...from hair dyed green to green bagels ! In Manhattan, the largest holiday parade will take place. There will be bagpipes ecohing thru the streets of Manhattan, and many a "kilt" will be swaying in the breeze. (gee...I should've gone to the city with my kids lol). Laughter, and smilin' Irish eyes are everwhere! And Irish music plays wherever you go. Since my children are in NYC at the parade and I am home watching it on the TV...... ..............let me set the scene....It is a beautiful clear, sunny yet cool day in NY. Ahh the Luck of the Irish as usual....tho...even if it was raining or snowing there would still be hundreds of thousands of people watching and marching on this day. In other words...nothing stops an Irishman from celebrating! lol You can see the "green" line that runs down the center of 5th Ave along the parade route. It is the 247th anniversary of the St Patricks Day parade. Imagine ...yes...the very first parade was on March 17, 1762. WOW! It is considered the largest parade in the WORLD! The parade passes St Patricks Cathederal in NYC.And the Cardinal watches from it's steps. It never has floats or autos but has 150,000 to 250,000 marchers and about 2 million spectators lining the streets, besides TV viewers. Here is some of the parade's history....... "The first St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York was held on lower Broadway in 1762 by a band of homesick Irish ex-patriots and Irish military serving with the British Army stationed in the American colonies in New York City. This was a time when the wearing of green was a sign of Irish pride and was banned in Ireland. The parade participants reveled in the freedom to speak Irish, wear the green, sing Irish songs and play the pipes to Irish tunes that were very meaningful to the Irish immigrants who had fled their homeland. Since the first Parade, 247 years ago, the Parade today is still escorted by a unit of soldiers; and for the past 150 years or so“The Irish Infantry” National Guard 69th Regiment have lead the Parade up Fifth Avenue, and they are followed by the various Irish societies of the city, the thirty two Irish county societies, and various Schools, collages, Emerald societies, Irish-language, and nationalist societies." And those soldiers marching today march in Authentic Civil War uniforms. "The 2002 parade was dedicated to the 'Heroes of 9/11, ' honoring the police, fire and all rescue workers. At midday, the entire parade paused for two minutes, the Parade at that time stretched one and a half miles and the entire Parade turned around and faced South towards the “TWIN TOWERS” as the Cardinal said a prayer for all the victims of 9/11. This was the first time in history, in the City that never sleeps, one could hear a pin drop on Fifth Avenue, a fitting tribute to the men and women who lost their lives on that fateful day in 2001. The 2002 Parade was the largest Parade to date with an estimated 300,000 marchers and three million spectators lining Fifth Avenue. This was the first time in history, the President of Ireland (Mary Mc Aleese) reviewed the Parade." So as I sit and watch....as different counties...Waterford, Derry, Longford....am waiting for Fermanagh and Tyrone lol...I feel an extreme sense of pride and goosebumps. I think even more so since I started researching my family. Why? Because I have come to understand the sacrifices and pride that they must've had. Let me close with...I have never been MORE proud to be Irish then today. The Irish helped build this country. They have made me who I am.....and given me my home, where I live. My mother was so right everytime she told me...." Be proud of who you are and where you come from!" I so am! A very Happy St. Patrick's Day to you ALL! Sue in "Irish" green New York! names: Armstrong- Dumfries,Scotland- Fermanagh, N Ire-Tyrone, N Ire-Illinois,USA Montgomery-Fermanagh, N Ire Copeland- Monaghan-Fermanagh-NY.USA Darcy- NY,USA Moroney- Galway,Ire- NY,USA Russell- Tipperary, Ire- NY,USA Henderson- Fermanagh,N Ire So... I want to wish you all a very Happy St. Patrick's Day! And as I watch the parade..and yes get teary eyed at the sound of "the pipes" I will think of all of you...and be thankful for all the help and knowledge you have shared with me on this list. Thank You, And I hope your Irish eyes keep smilin' all day! **************It's Tax Time! Get tips, forms, and advice on AOL Money & Finance. (http://money.aol.com/tax?NCID=aolprf00030000000001)