Jacinto City, TX. Friday, March 17, 2017 – St. Patrick’s Day was celebrated at the Jacinto City Health Care Center. Volunteers entertained with folks songs which included Irish favorites, “Danny Boy” and “Sweet Molly Malone.” Residents were given green derby style hats, wrist bands, bracelets, buttons, balloons Hawaiian neck leis and horns to toot during the celebration along with refreshments of green icing cake and punch.
Administrator Melissa Armstrong along with Kathy Meador and Bo Vega activity director’s for the center scheduled the event on the Activity Calendar so residents and family members could attend.
Bonnie Keane-Davis a volunteer whose great-grandparents came to the United States from Ireland in 1923 organized the entertainment and she gave the history of the beginning of St. Patrick’s Day. She said, “The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held not in Ireland but in New York city on March 17, 1762. It consisted largely of Irish soldiers. Today, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by wearing green, which symbolizes spring as well as Irish culture. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the world claims Irish heritage making it the top country for people to claim ancestry.”
Mathilda Davis gave a speech as to why it’s celebrated throughout the world; Madelyn Quiroz told the story of how St. Patrick used the shamrock leaf to explain the religious connection of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit and Ezperanza Quiroz ended the entertainment with the Irish Blessing.