In 2000, Vincent Fitzpatrick and his brothers at the Father Kelley Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians held the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manassas. Fitzpatrick has been the key organizer of the parade ever since and it now regularly draws crowds of about 7,000, he said. The parade took place Saturday despite the rain, but the holiday is celebrated Wednesday.
Where does St. Patrick’s Day come from?
It comes from the Irish Catholic heritage. In Ireland that holiday is traditionally very different. It’s a feast day celebrating St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland who drove the snakes from Ireland and brought Catholicism to the Irish. It started when things were tough during the famine and remains in that tradition.
Do you think the festivities in America have strayed too far from the tradition?
I don’t think so. I think in America it has become a celebration of everything the Irish have done for themselves since coming here. When the Irish came to America they were in the lower part of society and weren’t treated well. It was only when we got into being policemen and firemen that we were able to work our way up. St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of all the hard work we’ve done.
Is there a rich Irish-American history in Manassas?
There is actually. The Irish Brigade fought for the Union during the Battle of Manassas during the Civil War.
Why did you start the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manassas?
Myself and a handful of members of the Kelley Division of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians started planning it in 1999 after seeing the success of the parades in Alexandria and D.C. We decided we were far enough away from both of those events to run a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Prince William County.
— Freeman Klopott
