The 17th Annual Carbon County St. Patrick's Day Parade, sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians Alec Campbell Division 1, Carbon County, and the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Mollie Maguire Division 1, Carbon County, will take place along Broadway in Jim Thorpe starting at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 9.

The parade committee has selected Jim Thorpe resident Matthew P. Stinson Jr. to serve as grand marshal of the event."Once again, the parade committee has selected a unanimous choice to be the grand marshal and members of our division and the LAOH division are looking forward to having Matt lead us down Broadway. Matt is extremely proud of his Irish heritage and he will be celebrating his 80th birthday on St. Patrick's Day," said parade co-chairman Hugh Dugan."Since joining the AOH, Matt has been a very active member and also has been an active member of our parade committee for many years," said Dugan. "He is always willing to volunteer to take on any task."In addition to honoring St. Patrick, the parade, which will be held rain or shine, has become a huge draw for the residents of Carbon County to celebrate their Irish heritage and reunite with loved ones and old friends. The parade will follow the same route as in past years starting at the upper end of West Broadway and ending at the county parking lot, a downhill route that showcases the natural scenic beauty and unique history of Carbon County.About the grand marshalBorn on March 17, 1934, at 3:17 a.m., Stinson attended public school as a youth, graduating from Roxborough High School in Philadelphia, where he excelled in sports. He ran on the public league track champion Roxborough High team and was the lead runner when his team set the record in the quarter mile relay on its way to the championship.In 1954, he married his high school sweetheart, Joan Sarama. They have two sons, M. Francis "Frank" and Terrence "Terry," plus five grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.In 1967, the family moved to East Norriton Township, Montgomery County, where Matt continued to be involved in youth sports. He was president of the East Norriton Little League for 20 years, commissioner of boys' basketball, president of the East Norriton Parks and Recreation and president of the Montgomery County Parks and Recreation and Historical Sites.In 1984, Stinson and his wife built a log home in Jim Thorpe. Since its inception, he has been a board member of the Glen Onoko Estates community where he resides. For over 35 years, he was a union carpenter, retiring as a superintendent. He is a past president of the Carpenters Local 8 Retirees Club.Stinson is an avid hunter and has many trophies of the sport.He was president of the Carbon County

A.O.H., and financial secretary, and currently serves as vice president. He is extremely proud to be an American Catholic of Irish descent and attends St. Joseph Catholic Church, Jim Thorpe.The Grand Marshal's Dinner is scheduled for Friday, March 7, at the Mahoning Valley Country Club, Lehighton, beginning with a social at 6 p.m. and followed by the dinner and program at 7 o'clock and entertainment by The Shantations.For tickets, contact Noel Behan at 570-325-8056, Ron Sheehan at 570-325-4244, or Hugh Dugan at 570-325-3359.The dinner program this year is dedicated to the memory of George D. McDonald, Coaldale native who passed away on Jan. 1 of this year.McDonald was a gifted vocalist, guitarist and bassist whose career highlights began in the early 1960s with "The Shantations" and continued through the 1990s with "Remember When."McDonald was proud of his Irish heritage and traveled to Jim Thorpe annually to participate in the parade with his daughter Julie. Before his death, he was excited to have become a member of the

A.O.H.The St. Patrick's Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 8, at 4:30 p.m. in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Broadway in Jim Thorpe.