Members of the West Springfield Parade Committee are hard at work trying to build another prize-wining float.
Ann R. Morison, winner of the Thomas "Jinx" Powers Award for service to the West Springfield St. Patrick's Committee, paints a float the group is building to enter into the Holyoke St. Patrick's Parade.
SPRINGFIELD – West Springfield Irish have been hard at work since December sawing and painting to create what they hope will be another grand prize winning float in the upcoming St. Patrick’s Parade in Holyoke.
West Springfield has taken 13 first place finishes in the float competition over the last 30 years.
“That’s what we strive for every year,” Jeffrey R. Joseph, co-chair of the West Springfield Parade Committee’s float committee, said during a recent interview.
He was working alongside of other committee members in an old distribution center at Sullivan Paper on Avocado Street near the Connecticut River.
Joseph said Holyoke and Westfield offer West Springfield worthy competition each year for the grand prize.
“It’s a definite battle every year for who is going to get grand prize. I wouldn’t want to be a judge,” Joseph said.
Last year, the West Springfield float titled Tommy John’s Fire Engine took first prize. It was dedicated to retired West Springfield Police Chief Thomas McNamara and West Springfield Fire Chief John J. Flaherty. The two public servants had died in 2011 and the parade committee want to honor the native sons.
Joseph said the committee draws on lots of dedicated volunteers who try to create a prize-winning float for the city’s colleen and court to ride on in the Holyoke parade.
This year’s float will feature a McRory Castle and Sam the Dragon.
The float committee takes input from all of its members in coming up with a concept for a float, according to Joseph.
This year’s colleen Morgan McDonough will ride with her court Mary Solitaro, Katelyn Gilhooly, Caitlyn Sullivan and Darrelle Powell.
The more then 200-strong West Springfield contingent to the Holyoke parade will be led by marshal Edward F. Foley. Among them will be fire and police employees as well as members of such groups as the Town Council, the School Committee and the Rotary Club. Mayor Gregory C. Neffinger will also march.
Among the honorees taking part will be Jack Pinkerman, winner of the Ray DiStefano Citizenship Award given to a person of non-Irish heritage; Ann R. Morison, winner of the Thomas “Jinx” Powers Award for service to the parade committee and representatives of Sullivan Paper, winner of the Olde Mittineague Award.
Music will once again be provided by the West Springfield High School Marching Band.