Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter joins in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Philadelphia Irish Memorial.
Last year, it snowed. This year, it was windy and vaguely arctic. However, the sun shone brightly as local irish, the great and the small, gathered to remember the Irish ancestors who overcame overwhelming odds and endured endless hardships to settle here in Philadelphia.
And the board members of the Irish Memorial, local dignitaries and just average Irish-American citizens gathered at the monument down at Penn’s Landing on a brisk St. Patrick’s Day morning had one other thing to warm their hearts: a three-year, $60,000 donation from the Board of City Trusts.
John J. Egan, chairman of the City Trusts board, said he got the idea from Irish Memorial board member Kathy McGee Burns over lunch one day. “You just can’t say no to that woman,” he told the crowd.
Irish Memorial Board President John F. Donovan note that “it was he fastest $60,000 we ever made.” The funds will be used to improve lighting and general maintenance and upkeep of the monument and its grounds, he said.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter—on that day going by the unwieldy moniker of “Michael O’Nutterman”—seemed genuinely delighted to attend the ceremony and take part in the wreath-laying. This is a man who apparently loves being mayor, and all the little ceremonies that go with the job.
And here’s another thing Mayor O’Nutterman said he loves: “We always love a generous contribution.” But he quickly added: “Just be sure to cash that check as soon as possible.”
No worries there, we’re sure.
Take a look at our photos from that day:
