St. Patrick’s Day Marked by Tributes

St. Patrick’s Day celebrations unfolded across America on Saturday, led by the nation’s oldest and largest parade, which paused for a silent moment to honor the dead in a city healing from terrorism.

As bagpipers played the last chords of “God Bless America,” thousands of marchers and hundreds of thousands of spectators along Fifth Avenue faced south in silence toward where the World Trade Center towers had stood.

“Many of those who were lost on Sept. 11 would otherwise be marching proudly. . . . We know their spirit marches with us,” said Ireland’s president, Mary McAleese, who joined the New York parade for the first time.

The parade, like others across the country, was filled with small, poignant tributes to the victims, but it also carried the usual sprightly twists of Irish humor.

President Bush marched with politicians and firefighters in Chicago, where the Chicago River was dyed green for the occasion.

“People are generally good and fun-loving and they need little reason to show it--this day has a lot of tradition about being a happy day,” said Steve Healey, 33, an engineer who ran in a pre-parade race in Rochester, N.Y., carrying an Irish flag.

Despite its reputation for treating the day as a post-Mardi Gras beer bash, Savannah, Ga., celebrated by playing up patriotism and toning down the shenanigans. The biggest cheers were reserved for marchers wearing camouflage and police blues.

“We heard St. Patrick’s Day is over the top down here and we’ve had an unbelievable reception from people,” said New York police officer Jack Bishop, pausing for photos and lipstick-smeared kisses from women rushing out of the crowd.

In New York, controversy emerged over how best to honor firefighters. Parade organizers decided against letting a fire engine lead the parade, but agreed to honor the victims with the moment of silence.