The Morris County St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee announced that Jack Haren of Morris Plains is their 2024 Grand Marshal.
The Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off on Saturday, March 9 at 12 pm in Morristown, New Jersey.
Haren is a first-generation Irish American who grew up in upper Manhattan. His parents hailed from County Kerry and County Clare. He graduated from Fordham University in 1969 and served two years on active duty as a Signal Corps Lieutenant in the United States Army. He supports Veteran causes as a member of the American Legion Post 59 in Morristown. He is the site coordinator for Wreaths Across America, which places wreaths on the graves of veterans in over 2,200 cemeteries across the U.S.
“We’re very excited to have Jack lead us down South Street this year,” said Publicity Director Michael Leavy. “His passion for Irish history and culture makes him an excellent representative of the Irish experience in America.”
The Morris Plains resident is a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and Co-Chair of the organization’s Heritage Committee, scheduling trips to historical sites like Five Points and the Irish Hunger Memorial in lower Manhattan, the Molly Maguires jail, and annual visits to Gaelic Park in the Bronx.
Jack’s passion for Irish history led him to join the Executive Committee of the Archbishop Hughes Commemorative Project, which recognized the 200th Anniversary of The Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in lower Manhattan.
Jack retired as Company President of Mohawk Fine Paper Company in 2017 and is also a member of the Morristown Knights of Columbus George Washington Council.
Haren has resided in Morris Plains for the last 48 years with his wife, Eileen. They have three adult children, Christine, Michelle, and John, and two grandchildren.
The Morris County Parade honors a long history of celebration in the county claiming one of the first celebrations and march for St Patrick’s Day before the US was even a country.
After the long hard winter of 1779-1780 in Jockey Hollow, Morristown NJ, George Washington, in recognition of the effort of his Irish militiamen who made up a large number of his army, gave them March 17 off to celebrate St Patrick's Day. The soldiers celebrated with marches in camp and thus began one of the first St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in the United States.
Please visit ParadeDay.com for more information
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