Congratulations to Mick Dunleavy, President, Division 1, Chester County, and all the Hibernian Brothers who helped clean up the Medal of Honor Grove at Valley Forge, PA.  It was certainly a task worthy of their time and effort.  Let’s all help them keep it in good shape.

Congratulations also to Fr. Tom O’Donnell (National and PA State Chaplain) for completing the AOH Chaplain’s Handbook.  Because of Father’s Handbook, Priests all over the country will have a set of guidelines to help them be better AOH Chaplains.

I have two appointments to report.  Tom Coughlin, Jr. from Division 4, Montgomery County, is back as our webmaster.  Thank you Tom, and welcome back to the State Board.  Also, as a result of being contacted by the National Co-chairs of Irish American Heritage Month, a PA State Board position has been created.  Mark Snyder, Bucks County President has accepted the appointment as Chairman, Irish American Heritage Month.  All Division and County Presidents will be hearing from Mark in the near future.

On October 27th I went to New York City to meet Noel Kilkenny, Counsel General of Ireland.  Also there was National President Seamus Boyle, National Vice President Brendan Moore, Past National President Ned McGinley, National Director and New Jersey President Jere Cole and New York State President Chip McLean.  It was a very interesting meeting that lasted for about two hours.

On November 3, along with Jim Lamb, President of the Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh and member of Division 32 Allegheny County, Devinney, our State Solicitor, and Jim Caldwell, Allegheny County Freedom for All Ireland Chair, I traveled to Allegheny College in Meadeville, PA to meet Gerry Adams.  We arrived early and after getting myself a cup of coffee, I turned around and Gerry Adams walked up to me, introduced himself, and we talked one on one for a few minutes before he began his interview with the school paper.  After several other interviews we were all invited into the dining hall.  There were 30 to 40 tables of 8 set up and we were escorted to the one that was front and center.  Mr. Adams and a school professor were on a small dais just in front of us.  Before he started his question and answer session he said – “Before we start I would like you to know that Irish Americans, especially the AOH”, he pointed at us, “are those most responsible for the peace in the North of Ireland.”  It really makes you proud to be a Hibernian.

Let’s keep working for a United Ireland.

National President Seamus Boyle receives his Commission as a Kentucky Colonel from Colonel David Marantz AOH Div. 5, Luz. PA at a Ceremony which was held at the Chapel of Four Chaplains in Philadelphia. During the ceremony President Boyle inducted a Div. 5 member Paul Yankanich and his wife Joan into the Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Awards program.

Bucks County Delivers

Bristol Division 1 recently delivered two truckloads of canned food to the Saint Joseph the Worked Parish food pantry Martha’s Cupboard in November.  The food was collected at Warren Snyder John Girotti Elementary School to participate in dress down day.  The school PTO allowed us to take charge and distribute the food as needed.  Martha’s Cupboard the food pantry became empty Tuesday and this delivery was a shot in the arm.  Betty Russell runs the food pantry.  In addition The Ancient Order of Hibernian’s set up a Grant funded by AOH Division 1 with Phillabundance the local food bank so Martha’s Cupboard can order food from them and they will deliver free of charge.  The money to do this was raised through our Hibernian Hunger Project.  Our president Mark Snyder is proud and we have doubled our efforts recently.

Celebrating John Mitchell Day

AOH Division 4 “Hook O’Malley” Scranton, PA recently celebrated John Mitchell Day with a wreath presentation at Cathedral Cemetery. John Mitchell was the president of the United Mine Workers and his greatest pride was representing the coal miners of the Northeastern region. His success led to the 8 hour work day and safer conditions for the working man.

Pictured (L – R) are members of Div.4.Patrick O’Malley holding Vincent O’Malley, Patrick O’Malley II, Keith Oleski, Kevin Shaughnessy, Mark McDade, John Maher, Joe Walsh, Matt O’Malley, Matt O’Malley Jr., Jack Gilroy and Griffin Gilroy. The wreath is a yearly memorial event held by the O’Malley Division to celebrate a great man who made great changes for American workers.

Supporting Local Food Banks

The arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railroads Holiday Train is a special time for members of the Lackawanna County PA. Divisions and the “Hook O’Malley” Division 4 Scranton PA Div. 4 member Joe Walsh a Canadian Pacific Engineer and his division encouraged the Canadian Pacific Railroad to stop their annual Holiday train on the Nicholson Viaduct in Nicholson Pa. for a photo shoot of the train. The viaduct is one of greatest railroad structures ever built and draws thousands of people to see the train each year. The AOH Divisions along with the Nicholson Business Association started a food drive for local food banks in conjunction with the train’s arrival. The response has been great and local food banks have been greatly helped by our AOH Brothers and LAOH Sisters making this a yearly event.

The Philadelphia AOH, along with the K of C, (and an outside guest) sponsored a wonderful Nativity Scene in downtown Philly to celebrate keeping Christ in Christmas.

Division 1 Lycoming County Honors Hibernian of the Year

The AOH in Williamsport, Pa held its annual Hibernian of the Year ceremony at the Msgr. William J Fleming Center, St Joseph the Worker Parish Williamsport on Wednesday Dec 1^st, 2010. The recipient of this year’s award was Brother Kermit Miller; he is a founding member of the Officer John P Maloney Division 1, Lycoming County which reorganized December 1997. He is a Major Degree member and the division’s Financial Secretary. Brother Miller received this award for his service, contributions and dedication to the Order and to the community.

Chris Norris National Director, Kermit Miller award recipient and Brian McQuillen Division President

All for a Good Claus

During this past Holiday season, Brothers from the PA Cumberland II, General William Thompson Division rallied to show their support to military families, and the children of the local community.  The Division acquired more than $3500 of toys and stocking stuffers. These toys went to children of all ages and were delivered in time for Christmas by Division Brothers portraying, “Military Claus” or “Celtic Claus.” Some of the local organizations that benefited from the sharing of AOH hospitality were the Children’s Cancer Recovery Center, area Reserve and Guard Units, as well as active duty Army, Marines and Air Force Families and military child care facilities. Toys were also distributed to the PA State House of Representatives for their “Adopt A Family” Program run by the House Democratic Caucus employees. Realizing how hard the holidays were hitting individual families, Cumberland II was told about some children who needed some Holiday joy and delivered to them as well.

Military Claus - Santa delivers Holiday joy to PA State House "Adopt a Family" Program Pictured (L - R) Dave Thomas, Nilda Jenkins, Diane Boyer, Santa and Sue Thomas.