Page 22 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2017

COASTNOTES
Irish heritage
COLLEEN Alexandra Waldrop
For 28 years the Hibernia Marching Society has been leading local activities for the
Irish heritage season
in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. March 11 is the big
day this year with a 5K run and 1-mile walk at 8 a.m. and a parade
at 2 p.m. in downtown Biloxi. This year’s Colleen is Alexandra Waldrop, daughter of Terry and Stacey Waldrop of Gulfport, and the Grand Marshall is Scott DeLano of Biloxi. Each of them is of Irish heritage.
In 2015, following her international student teaching studies, Waldrop traveled to Ireland to experience Irish culture. She is a graduate of
St. Patrick Catholic High School
and the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in Special and Elementary Education. She currently teaches special education at West Elementary in Gulfport while pursuing a Master’s of Education in Dyslexia Therapy at William Carey University.
Delano is a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives and is the son of Don and Barbara DeLano. He and his wife Robin
have two children, Matthew, 16,
and Emily, 13. He is a graduate of Long Beach High School and the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In 1998 he joined
his mother’s real estate company to specialize in retail redevelopment, tenant representation and residential subdivision development. In
2009 he co-founded Southeast Commercial Real Estate, a full service commercial real estate brokerage and development company.
Before 1978, informal gatherings were held by spirited Irish Americans at Mary Mahoney’s Old French House Restaurant. In 1978, Dr. John O’Keefe placed an article in the newspaper extending an invitation to all Irish — and those who would like to be Irish — to attend a meeting to discuss the organization of the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the establishment
of a society to sponsor such events. The first parades were red wagons decorated with an Irish flair and beads thrown to those present in the restaurant parking lot. The Hibernia Marching Society was organized by Dr. O’Keefe, Clark Shaughnessy and Joe Collins and was incorporated as The Hibernia Marching Society of Mississippi, Inc. in 1989.
The purpose is to promote interest in Irish heritage and develop an appreciation for Irish culture. Allied with these objectives is the desire to experience good fun and fellowship among members who are Irish by birth, marriage or desire.
For information about the run, contact Leonard Vergunst of the Gulf Coast Running Club at 228.380.7037.
March 11 run and parade
story by Lynn Lofton photos courtesy of Hibernia Marching Society
GRAND MARSHALL Scott DeLano
22 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • March 2017
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net
HIBERNIA MARCHING SOCIETY 2017 ST. PATRICKS DAY PARADE ROUTE MARCH 11, 2017 STARTS @ 2PM IN FRONT OF THE GRUICH CENTER
AT BELLMAN STREET AND HOWARD AVENUE