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A RESOLUTION recognizing March 2024 as Irish American Heritage Month for 1
the Commonwealth of Kentucky. 2
WHEREAS, from our country's earliest days, Irish immigrants and their 3
descendants have contributed leadership, wisdom, and vitality to not only Kentucky but 4
America as a whole. Through nine signers of the Declaration of Independence and 23 5
Presidents with Irish roots, Irish Americans have made an indelible mark in the shaping 6
of the great city of Louisville and the Commonwealth of Kentucky; and 7
WHEREAS, throughout their long history, the Irish have been ardent in their 8
passion for liberty, their hatred of oppression, and renowned for their loyalty. The Irish 9
have from the beginning been prominent in the defense of this nation. Twenty of George 10
Washington's generals and an estimated quarter of his Continental Army were composed 11
of Irish Americans. The first officer commissioned by Washington in the newly formed 12
Navy was an Irishman named John Barry, who became Commodore of the Continental 13
Navy; and 14
WHEREAS, in 1804, pirates had attacked the United States Navy and civilian ships 15
were kidnapped and imprisoned in Derne and Tripoli. When negotiations to pay a ransom 16
of $100,000 failed to gain their release and the American flag staff was cut down in front 17
of the United States Consulate, war was declared against Tripoli. On April 27, 1805, 18
Lieutenant Presley O'Bannon of Kentucky led a charge passing through a shower of 19
enemy gunfire and took possession of enemy batteries, posting an American flag on its 20
ramparts and turning the guns on the enemy. Victory was won in the ensuing two-hour 21
battle and for the first time in United States history, an American flag flew over a fortress 22
of the Old World. O'Bannon's deeds are remembered in the Marine Corps Hymn and the 23
flag of the Corps, and the sword used in the dress uniform of the Corps is a copy of the 24
one presented to O'Bannon by Hamet, a chieftain and ally of the United States in the 25
Mediterranean. The final resting place of Lieutenant O'Bannon is the cemetery on the hill 26
overlooking our State Capitol in Frankfort; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2458
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WHEREAS, Ralph Waldo Rose, born in Louisville in 1885 of Irish parents, 1
attended the University of Michigan on scholarship to compete on the track team in the 2
shotput, discus, and hammer throw. In 1904, Rose competed in the Olympics in St. Louis 3
winning a gold, silver, and bronze medal in these events respectively. Rose was selected 4
by the 1908 Olympic Committee to carry the United States flag in the opening 5
ceremonies in the Summer Olympics in London. When passing King Edward the 6
Seventh, Rose broke tradition and refused to dip the flag to the British King. No United 7
States flag has ever been dipped to any monarch since; and 8
WHEREAS, on Election Day August 6, 1855, in Louisville, Kentucky, numerous 9
Irish were among the immigrants who were brutally murdered. The crimes occurred as 10
the immigrants were trying to go to the polls to cast their ballots in attacks orchestrated 11
by a local political group known as the "Know Nothings," because they felt that the large 12
influx of immigrants would "undermine the American way of life"; and 13
WHEREAS, the Irish community of Louisville has a distinguished tradition of 14
putting on the St. Patrick's Parade, a 501(c)(3) charity event hosted by the Ancient Order 15
of Hibernians, the Saturday before St. Patrick's Day on March 17, thereby renewing their 16
connections to the land of their ancestry as they pass along the traditions of the Irish 17
people to the next generation and celebrating their pride, heritage, and charitable giving 18
with the community irrespective of ethnicity; and 19
WHEREAS, a new Hibernian division was established in 2018 in Lexington and 20
named for Dr. Pearse Lyons, Irish founder of Alltech in Nicholasville, a large employer 21
in the Commonwealth and the first naming sponsor of the World Equestrian Games when 22
it came to the United States and to Kentucky for the first time in 2010 and whereas the St. 23
Patrick’s Day parade in Lexington, begun in 1980 and produced by the city's Department 24
of Parks and Recreation with support of local business and cultural organizations, is the 25
longest-running citywide civic event in the city; and 26
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper to celebrate the rich culture, heritage, and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2458
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valuable contributions of the Irish people during the month of March, when people of 1
Irish descent celebrate the Patron Saint of Ireland, St. Patrick, on March 17; 2
NOW, THEREFORE, 3
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the 4
Commonwealth of Kentucky: 5
Section 1. Due to the overwhelming number of citizens within the 6
Commonwealth of Kentucky who are Irish or are descendants of Irish immigrants and the 7
tremendous contributions of Irish Americans to our nation, our Commonwealth, and our 8
communities, the House of Representatives hereby recognizes March as Irish American 9
Heritage Month for Kentucky. 10
Section 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives is directed to transmit a 11
copy of this Resolution to Representative Kimberly Poore Moser; John O’Dwyer, 12
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Commonwealth of Kentucky President, 915 Lone Tree 13
Court, Louisville, KY 40223; John Favier, President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians 14
in Louisville, 5321 Foxwood Drive, Crestwood, Kentucky 40014; Molly Dobson, Ladies 15
Ancient Order of Hibernians, Commonwealth of Kentucky President, 3813 Brody Lane, 16
Louisville, KY 40299; Megan Dunlevy Bennett, President of the Ladies Ancient Order of 17
Hibernians in Louisville, 6308 Milo Court, Louisville, KY 40218; Bradley Miller, 18
President of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Lexington, 1320 Gray Hawk Road, Unit 19
E, Lexington, KY 40502; and Natalie Peterinelli, President of the Ladies Ancient Order 20
of Hibernians in Covington, 5941 Boulder View Court, Cold Spring, KY 41076. 21