By Cathy Miller

March 9 was a day to celebrate the glory of the green, with pipers and drummers and step dancers, oh my!

The Hackettstown Business Improvement District (BID) kicked off their annual Parade weekend with a Grand Marshal Reception at David’s Country Inn to honor 2023 St. Patrick’s Parade Grand Marshal, Mr. Robert “Bob” Moore. The reception dinner featured the Rory O’Moore School of Pipes and Drums from Succasunna, the Slattery School of Irish Dance from Chester, and congratulatory Proclamations from the County of Warren and the Town of Hackettstown.

Hackettstown residents since June 1976, it’s where Moore and his wife of 48 years, Mary Ann, raised their four children, and where his civic involvement and spirit of volunteerism continues to flourish.

He retired after 35 years with the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities, and has served as a CPR instructor for Atlantic Health since 2008.

Past president and a lifelong member, he’s been involved with the Hackettstown First Aid and Rescue Squad for over 25 years.

Moore has served on the Hackettstown Board of Education since 2008. He sat on the Hackettstown Town Council from 1990 to 1996, and has been on the Land Use Board since 2000. He volunteered at Our Lady of the Mountain teaching Religious Education classes from 1985 to 2008. He is a Kiwanis Member and past president, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. An Air Force veteran, Moore is also a member of the American Legion Blue Ridge Post 164.

To open the program, a parade of several past grand marshals were led into the packed ballroom by the Rory O’Moore School of Pipes and Drums, who then circled back to escort the 2023 Grand Marshal Bob Moore to the podium. *2020 and 2022 Past Grand Marshal Joe Barnes, from Hackettstown, Ireland, placed the traditional green, orange and white sash over Moore’s shoulder, recognizing him as 2023’s Grand Marshal.

After introductions and dinner, students from the Slattery School of Irish Dance entertained the attendees with several beautifully executed dance routines. The precision and energy of these young dancers was extraordinary.

Warren County Commissioner James R. Kern III presented Moore with a proclamation from the Warren County Board of County Commissioners applauding his selection as the 2023 Grand Marshal of the Hackettstown St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Hackettstown Mayor Jerry DiMaio and Councilperson James Lambo presented Moore with a proclamation in his honor from the Town Council.

Best wishes to Mr. Robert “Bob” Moore, a most worthy grand marshal, and his family.

*Why two different years? Joe Barnes was to be the Grand Marshal for 2020. Unfortunately, the day after the traditional Grand Marshal Reception, the world shut down due to Covid. The parade was cancelled. Joe flew back to Ireland immediately to avoid being grounded in the USA. Since he never had his parade, the Hackettstown BID promised he’d be the Grand Marshal at their next parade after covid, which was in 2022.