Clik here to view.
Borrowing from the ancient Irish blessing, “May the road rise to meet you …,” the road rose to greet persons both present and departed at Saturday’s Working Families St. Patrick’s Day parade and with a much needed dose of sun and a not-too-fierce wind, the spirit of the day was lifted for all.
The annual parade tradition of honoring Grand Marshals drew participants and attendees from across Chicago’s diverse communities and suburbs.
Started by International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150, this year’s Grand Marshals’ were fallen Chicago Police Officers Enrique Martinez, James “Jim” Crowley, Luis Huesca and Areanah M. Preston and firefighters Jermaine Pelt, Lieutenant Kevin Ward, Lieutenant Jan Tchoryk and EMT Andrew Price.
Crowds overflowed sidewalks along the roughly 1-mile parade route on Archer Avenue.
Clik here to view.
“It’s a little windy, but it’s Chicago; it’s not cold and that’s all that matters,” said President and Business Manager of Local 150 Jim Sweeney before the start of the parade. “We’ve got our giant flag up on our 200-ton crane and we have the WGN radio MIC Guys in the announcing booth. The mood is festive! Why wouldn’t it be? It was 80 degrees yesterday and 70 degrees today!”
Growing from what was once a small Southwest Side family march to an increasingly large community event, the Archer Avenue parade included over 80 units this year.
Participating organizations ranged from pet foundations to marching bands and labor unions.
Also in attendance were the MIC guys from WGN’s Workers’ Mic radio show, 720 AM, who performed parade announcer duties. The show, also in podcast format, focuses on labor-related issues and is hosted by Ken Edwards, Ed Maher and Phil Davidson.
“We’re excited to be out here,” said Edwards. “It’s the Chicago Working Families St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Every union from across the city comes down here and supports the parade. It’s a neighborhood parade, a lot of middle-class people bring their kids and families out, so we’re psyched to see all this and want to report on all the good work the unions are doing. They’re raising a ton of money.”
Raising money for the “Get Behind the Vest” program supplying bulletproof vests to police officers and the “EMWQ Retirees’ Widows and Children’s Assistance Fund” that assists families of fallen firefighters is what sets the Southwest Side parade apart from other Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parades, according to Maher.
“This one raises money for the community and gives back to the working class and we think that’s important,” he added.
Davidson echoed Maher’s statement saying the parade’s big union support of the working class is its centerpiece including its status as the “best and longest running parade in Chicago.”
Saturday marked Sharon Homerding’s first time attending the parade. She joined her friend Alexa Sommer, a regular attendee.
“The importance of the parade is to show community support and the parade is a fundraiser to buy vests for Chicago police,” Sommer said. “It helps them because they have to provide their own safety vests. It’s a good fundraiser and gets the community involved.
Homerding agreed, saying the ability to support the “blue” on a beautiful day felt perfect.
Keith Berls, member of the Local 134 IBEW Rider’s Club of Chicago shared similar feelings about the significance of the event.
“Our motorcycle club has been here for the past five years,” Berl said. “Our business manager Don Finn has been very big into the labor aspect of these parades and this has always been a nice parade that goes through a working class neighborhood. It’s good to see all the people who come out to support it. It turns out nicely for everybody.”
Despite the importance of the parade’s mission, plenty of craic—pronounced “crack,” the Irish word for fun—was had by all.
The Cisneros family’s St. Patrick’s Day offering included a family member dressed as one of the larger leprechauns among the attendees. Another family member sported an orange beard.
The family has come every year for five years now, said Ms. Cisneros. “We’re in the neighborhood so we enjoy it,” she added. “The kids enjoy it too. It’s about community pride!”
Fergus, a 5-month-old Irish wolfhound, made his first appearance at the parade with owner John Harrington, a member of Local 150.
“Fergus is 5 months old, and it’s his first St. Patrick’s Day and first parade,” Harrington said. Born in Kentucky, young Fergus seemed not to know what to make of the event, keeping close to his family members.
City Council member Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th), also marched in Saturday’s parade.
“It’s again my pleasure to join my colleagues, labor and the greater Southwest Side for this wonderful, continuous tradition,” Lopez said. “If this weekend taught us anything, it was that God prefers Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day parade best!”
Parade organizer Local 150 President-Business Manager Jim Sweeney thought the day was a success.
“I am immensely proud of the dedication and spirit our community shows each year for the Chicago Working Families Archer Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This parade is more than just a celebration of Irish heritage; it’s a testament to the unity and resilience of the neighborhood,” Sweeney said. “Honoring our brave police officers and firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice is a reminder of the profound impact they have on our lives. It’s an event that brings us together in community, remembrance, and gratitude. We were extremely happy to have received such outstanding support from our sponsors, participants, and attendees this year, and most important is that through this parade, we are able to help two very worthy causes.”
All said and done, with thousands of people in attendance and over 50 sponsors, organizers reported over $100,000 was raised for the chosen charities.
Special recognition by parade organizers went to state Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D-22nd), Ald. Silvana Tabares (23rd), Ald. Marty Quinn (13th), 8th District Chicago Police Department, and James Tracy, former president of the Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2.
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