Drew Ferguson: “I rise today to honor all Irish Americans and to wish everyone an early happy St. Patrick's Day, which we will celebrate…”

“I rise today to honor all Irish Americans and to wish everyone an early happy St. Patrick's Day, which we will celebrate this weekend. I also would like to pay tribute to Mr. Michael Anthony Pecora, the first prize winner in the 2002 Morris County, New Jersey, St. Patrick's Day Essay Contest. Michael is currently a ninth grade student at Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, a school of which I am a proud alumnus. Entrants in this contest were asked to discuss the contributions that Irish Americans have made to the betterment of our country. Michael wrote of the ways that Irish Americans have helped to shape our political system, our education system, and our national literature and theater and sports. He spoke of the unique prominence of women in Irish communities, and the accomplishments that many women of Irish heritage have achieved in our country. Michael eloquently described the persistence of Irish Americans in the face of ethnic and religious prejudice, and to overcome these obstacles and to make lasting and important contributions to American society. I commend Michael Pecora for his award-winning essay about Irish Americans, and congratulate him on his accomplishment.”