Michael Bradley, center, with Mayor Michael Nutter and Linda Bradley.
He’s Man of the Year Every Year
Philly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade Director Michael Bradley has been named the Philadelphia Emerald Society’s Man of the Year for 2010.
Along with coordinating the parade and running the Irish Fest on Penns Landing in June, Bradley literally fought City Hall to keep the parade marching down the Parkway after the Nutter administration, faced with a serious budget shortfall, withdrew the city’s financial support of the parade, the second oldest in the US. A series of fundraisers helped pay some of the added bills and Bradley vowed that the parade would go on, no matter what. “It will either be a peaceful parade or an organized riot,” he joked before a meeting with Mayor Michael Nutter.
Also being honored at Philadelphia Police Sergeant Patrick McDonald, who was killed in the line of duty, and Philadelphia Fire Department Captain Larry McDonald, Patrick’s father, who died of a heart attack while riding his bike last spring. We interviewed Larry McDonald last St. Patrick’s Day at a fundraiser for a charity established in his son’s name.
The men will be honored at a banquet on October 22 at the Fraternal Order of Police Hall, 1336 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia. Tickets are $50 per person. Contact Harry Marnie at 215-298-9573, 302-736-6654, or hmarnie@verizon.net for information or to purchase tickets or an ad in the program book.
From the “We Told You She Was Inspirational” Department
In May, Denise Sullivan Morrison, a division president at Campbell’s Soup in Camden, NJ, was honored as one of 11 “Inspirational Irish Women” at a ceremony at Philadelphia’s Irish Center.
When we interviewed Denise, who credited her dad with exposing her and her sisters to the business world at a time when for girls, “business” meant being in the steno pool, she said her goal was to become a CEO one day.
That day may be coming soon. Campbell’s CEO Douglas Conant, Morrison’s boss and mentor, announced this week that he’s stepping down and Morrison may be his successor. If you’d like to find out why this would be a good move, read what we wrote about Denise Sullivan Morrison in May 2010.
Brittany Basis, the 2006 Mary from Dungloe, in the St. Patrick's Day Parade.
Be A Soldier’s Santa
Philadelphia’s 2006 “Mary from Dungloe” Brittany Basis is looking for a few good elves to make the holidays bright for US Marines stationed in Afghanistan—including her husband, Cpl. Roy Basis of the 2nd Batallian, 6th Marine Unit.
“There are about 800 Marines in the 2/6 alone and they have already lost 8 brothers in combat and suffered over 80 injuries,” says Basis. The men rarely shower, are connected to home via satellite phones they have to share and which drop calls after only a few minutes, making for disjointed conversations.
“The biggest morale boosters are when the men receive care pacakages from their wives, girlfriends, and family. Sadly,” says Basis, “some of the men don’t receive anything at all or have no one to get packages from.”
So she’s asking local organizations—and Irish folk—to put together packages for Operation Christmas Stocking, founded by Chaplain Dave Mowbray of the 2/6.
Here’s what they need, according to Chaplain Mowbray:
“Christmas stockings (12-18 inches long, and feel free to decorate and/or write your name/message on either the inside or outside)
“Pre-lit Christmas Trees (2-4 feet high, cheap ones are fine. These will be used in the various posts and bases around Marjah)
“Christmas related candy, candy canes, small toys and similar items. The more “Christmasy” or silly the better.
“No need to stuff the stockings, I’ll take all donations, plus the goodies we normally get, and try to make everything as equal as I can for everyone. Just use common sense on what you should or shouldn’t send. Liquor, drugs, chain saws? No. Anything else I can sort through and figure out. Chocolate should be fine, as it will be getting colder here. Boot or sport socks are a big hit too. One thing I have learned though: hygiene products and food do not usually ship well together. Food tends to absorb the scent of soap, laundry detergent, etc… Yuck.”
You’ll need to send your packages by November 1 to ensure a holiday delivery. Since the 2/6 is “too far in the boonies,” says the chaplain, don’t sending calling cards. You’ll need to fill out a customs form at the post office but you’ll only pay domestic shipping rates. Write “Operation Christmas Stocking” on the outside of the box and send them to:
Chaplain Dave Mowbray
2/6 H&S Company
Unit 73175
FPO AE 09510-3175
