Congressman Chris Smith with 2015 Miss St. Patrick, Julia DeAngelo, at the Ancient Order of Hibernians in Hamilton, NJ.
Congressman Smith, center, with four AOH members honored for their 30 years of service as Parade Marshals: Bill Paglione, Tom Beers, Neil Glackin and Billy McClain.
The Saint Patrick Parade Committee at Hamilton honored U.S. Congressman Chris Smith for his work on human rights, and Steinert High School senior Julia DeAngelo for being named Miss St. Patrick 2015 at a luncheon this week at the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Kuser Road in Hamilton Township.
The committee recently named Smith as its Grand Marshal for the 30th annual Parade because of Smith's legislative support on human right abuse in Northern Ireland since the mid 1990s.
"I'm honored and humbled to be Grand Marshal," Smith (NJ-04) said at the recently held announcement. "I look forward to marching and celebrating our Irish heritage and it's a tremendous culture we celebrate and a saint who is second to none."
Clark Masi, chairman of the committee remarked "It's an honor for us to add Congressman Smith to the long green line of past Grand Marshals." Current Trenton AOH president and last year's grand marshal Vince McKelvey added, "Smith has long held Northern Ireland politician leaders and members of the British government feet to the fire in regard to the Good Friday agreement, he has never stopped." McKelvey added, "That is one of the main reasons for his selection and thus our theme for this year's parade - An Irish Salute to Human Rights."
Julia DeAngelo, a senior at Steinert HS, has been selected by the Hamilton St. Patrick's Committee as their Miss Saint Patrick for the 2015 Parade. Besides helping to lead the parade she will also receive the committee scholarship award of $2,000.
She is a member of the National Honor Society and has been a competitive Irish dancer for over 13 years. This year Julia capped her four years of playing soccer at Steinert by being the varsity captain. She has been accepted at Rutgers University, but is also awaiting word from some other colleges. She resides with her parents, Wayne and Toni, and older sister Natalie, a former Miss Saint Patrick.
Parade committee Trustee Cathy McKelvey and chair of the selection committee summed it up. "We have once again been blessed with an outstanding young lady who will bring grace and dignity to the parade and the celebration of the great Saint Patrick."
Also honored for their 30 years of service were the Parade Marshals: Bill Paglione, Tom Beers, Neil Glackin and Billy McClain.
