Patricks Day today. The warmth. wisdom. courage. and faith of the Irish have touched all of our lives in some way. By 1776. nearly 300.000 Irish men and women had emigrated to the United States. Thousands fought in the Revolutionary War. nine men of Irish origin signed our Declaration of Irdependence. A century later. waves of Irish immigrants brought talent and energy to our growing Nation. Their contributions to the arts. athletics. politics. science. and other fields of human endeavor have been extensive and need no elaboration. In the 1980 census. just over 40 million Americans claimed to be of Irish descent. Many IrishAmericans reside in my own State of Illinois. and Chicago is host to a fabulous St. Patricks Day paradeone I march In every year with both pleasure and pride. This year I was especially honored to march as the guest of the Irish Immigration Reform Movement. There are other St. Patricks Day events in Chicago as well: dances. dinners. and even a race known as the Shamrock Shuffle.
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