March 19, 2025
“Whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or not, everyone has a little luck o’ the Irish in them.” —Laura Sommers
St. Patrick’s Day is now in the history books, but here at your Chamber of Commerce we’re still feeling very lucky. On Saint Patrick’s Day 2025, we found ourselves in the Locust Gap Community Park. This coal mining patch town is located at the extreme southeastern corner of Northumberland County, right at the edge of your Chamber’s ‘formal footprint.’
Ask anyone who attended your Chamber’s March Member Meeting, and they will likely tell you that they felt that they spent their day of ‘wearing o’ the green’ at the center of the Irish World outside of Ireland. Our day included a procession down from the St. Joseph’s Cemetery to a gleaming white tent in the community park.
Once there we heard traditional and patriotic tunes offered by the Locust Gap homegrown-band Bloodline. After appropriate prayers and readings, we heard from Chamber and Community Leader, Thom Rippon as he weaved a tale of his family. Originating in County Mayo, in Ireland, emigrating to Archibald, near Scranton, and then landing in Hershey to begin his family’s long entrepreneurial journey. Thom and his sons are our local McDonald’s franchisees and are very active in business development and community revitalization efforts.
Our day ended in the St. Mary’s Cemetery, Beaverdale, just outside of Mount Carmel, were Thom laid a wreath of Shamrocks, Mums, Ivy, and Irish Bells at the grave of Patrick Hester. Hester was hanged in the gallows in 1874 for his alleged crimes and involvement with the Molly Maguires. The Mount Carmel VFW Honor Guard provide a gun salute followed by taps. Our day wrapped up with Thom reading the inscription on Hester’s tombstone and a heartfelt salute to a good and faithful servant whose life was cut short in the pursuit of the American Dream of freedom and prosperity.
Thank you, Patrick Hester. Thank you, Thom Rippon. Your good work ensures us that our best days lie just ahead.
This News Item article, expertly written by Mackenzie Witt captures the GSVCC March Member Meeting in words and photos very well.
