2023 IRISH GUEST OF HONOR

Senator Fiona O’Loughlin

Fiona O’Loughlin is a member of Seanad Eireann and formerly a member of Dail Eireann. She currently serves as Chair of the Oireachtas Women’s Caucus and Deputy Leader of Fianna Fail in the Senate. She previously served as a Councillor, Mayor and was the first ever female elected TD for her native Kildare.

Serving on the Oireachtas Education and Disability matters committees, Fiona is also the head of the Irish delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. Fiona is a passionate advocate for equality and inclusion, and has always fought for equal rights. From marriage equality for the LGBTQI+ community, to supports for those living with disabilities, to championing women’s issues- her career has been one of advocacy. She brings this experience, and her tenacious spirit to the Seanad in the hopes of affecting positive change at a national level.

2024 IRISH GUEST OF HONOR

TBD

2023 HONORARY PARADE MARSHAL

Patrick Murphy

Patrick Murphy is an American television producer for the Nine Network of Public Media, the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate in St. Louis, Missouri. He also serves as the station’s Vice President of Production.

Since 1981, Murphy has been known as “Voice of Channel 9”, producing and narrating such programming as the popular Living St. Louis and the nationally distributed A Time for Champions, chronicling the St. Louis University soccer dynasty of the 1960s and 70s. He has also worked locally on many of PBS’s national projects such as The War and Facing the Mortgage Crisis, an effort that was managed by The Nine Network.

Murphy has been honored for his work in television with four Emmys, two Auroras and numerous Tellys.

2024 HONORARY PARADE MARSHAL

TBD

2023 HONORARY CHAIRMAN

Drew Patchin

Drew Patchin, 9, will serve as Honorary Chairman for the 2023 Metropolitan St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Drew is a fourth grader at Bellerive Elementary School, and is known for catching Pokemon all over St. Louis. He excels in Ninja classes, never misses a horseback riding lesson, and plays cello and basketball. Drew’s favorite person in the World is his little brother Tyler, 5. Drew loves parades, mascots and watching all kinds of sports. He’s even an honorary member of the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons men’s baseball team.

In 2019, Drew was diagnosed with brain cancer called Anaplastic Ependymoma. He received surgery and radiation at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, as the hospital’s youngest patient to undergo radiation without sedation. In 2021, Drew’s cancer returned. He had surgery at Children’s Hospital and then went to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital for radiation. Just weeks ago, Drew began his third battle with brain cancer. He’s a warrior and is ready to fight this battle again, with support from family and friends – and our entire Parade organization.

On Parade day, Drew will march down Market Street with his family, parents Jennifer and Doug Patchin, brother Tyler, aunt Debbie Schultz and grandfather Craig Schultz. Drew will be followed by his friends in Cub Scout Pack 572 of the New Horizon District, and he’ll be cheered on, along the route, by his band of supporters who call themselves “Drew’s Crew.”

For more information and to follow Drew’s story, please visit the Drew’s Crew Facebook page.

2023 HONORARY MILITARY GUEST OF HONOR

Major General James Bonner, U.S. Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood Commanding General

James E. Bonner is a United States Army major general who serves as the commanding general of the United States Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood since June 2020. He previously served as commanding general of the 20th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives Command and before that, as commandant of the United States Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School.

In November 2012, Bonner was inducted into the Southern Illinois University Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps Hall of Fame.

2023 HONORARY MILITARY GUEST OF HONOR

COLONEL JOSEPH C. “CLETE” GOETZ II, U.S. Army Engineer School Commandant

A native of Rome, New York, Colonel “Clete” Goetz assumed duties as the 100th Commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer School following service as Director of the Office of the Chief of Engineers in the Pentagon.

His staff assignments include duty at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Fort Drum, New York, and Buffalo District Corps of Engineers. He has prior service in the Department of the Army Secretariat as the Military Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).

He has completed one Joint Duty assignment at the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) in Washington, D.C. as a branch chief in the acquisition arm of that organization.

He has commanded company, battalion, and brigade formations at Ft. Drum, Germany, Iraq, and Ft. Hood, respectively.

He has degrees in Civil Engineering from the United States Military Academy, University of Missouri at Rolla and the University of Texas at Austin and is a graduate of the Army War College.

COL Goetz and his wife, Beth, share three children ages 19, 16, and 12.

2024 HONORARY MILITARY GUEST OF HONOR

TBD