As Spring arrives, we hope the slow warming of the weather and lengthening of the days is making things brighter. The general news on the pandemic front is getting better day by day as vaccine availability has improved in our area, though, with a meaningful number of deaths per day still, weâre not out of the woods. We hope all are staying healthy.
Our next division meeting will be held virtually this Thursday, March 25 at 7:30 pm. See mail for a link to the meeting and instructions. Things continue to be quieter than normal, especially for the month of March for us. We hope youâve been able to take advantage of the various virtual offerings that the national AOH board has made available. There have been some tremendous events focused both on our history and our faith.
On Sunday, March 21st, the Rockland County AOH and the Rockland County Pipe & Drums Band put together a brief but touching performance in front of the Hibernian House, as a remembrance of the second year of missing our Rockland County parade. All Rockland AOH members lost in the last year were remembered at this time. Iâve talked to a number of members who wished they had been able to come and had more (or any notice). Unfortunately, the arrangement of the entire event came together roughly 48 hours prior to it, leaving little time for formal notices. For those who werenât able to be there, or for those who want to see it again, it was broadcast live on Facebook and can be viewed here: https://fb.watch/4oXFv3mSGf/Reiterating, too, what Iâve spoken to a few of you about âthis was a brief remembrance and was not intended to be THE memorial for those weâve lost in Division 3. There will be a time and place for that later this year when the public health crisis has truly abated.
As an avowed nerd, albeit a mediocre mathematician, I do want to throw in a plug in my monthly letter for Neilâs history article in this newsletter this month on the Irish-American version of âHidden Figuresâ â make sure to read it
Good & Welfare âPlease pray for the repose of the souls of Scott Wheatleyâs father, Walter Wheatley, for Fergal Hayesâ mother, Maureen Hayes and for Firefighter Jared Lloyd of the Spring Valley VFD who passed tragically in the assisted living home fire earlier this week.It just reinforces how important it is to keep our first respondersâlaw enforcement professionals, EMS, and healthcare workersâin our prayers. As always, we pray that you and your family are healthy and safe.
Yours in Friendship, Unity and Christian Charity,
Chuck Parnow.