Xavier Marches On in St. Patrick’s Day Parade

By Conor Hurley ‘14

Members of the Xavier community gathered last Saturday, March 16, to march in the 2019 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

The Xavier Regiment, band, and distinguished administrators, faculty, and alumni embarked on the age-old tradition. Among those marching was MSG Clifford Stein, USA (Ret.), a member of the military science department.

“This year I marched in my 12th St. Patrick's Day Parade with the Xavier Regiment. When we discuss the parade in the classroom the week prior, I am always amazed at the level of excitement the cadets display as we prepare to march,” Stein said.

For some cadets, this parade marked a bittersweet moment as it was the last parade they would march in wearing a Xavier JROTC uniform.

“I still look back on that first Columbus Day Parade, where I was so nervous about forgetting to look forward or being out of step. It is a great reminder of how far I have come as a person, that I have gone from being afraid to let other people down to being one of the people leading without fear,” Andrew Weaver ’19 said. 

Weaver started at Xavier with ambitions of being a leader in the JROTC and this year fulfilled his dream of a leadership role in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“Honestly, the experience of stepping out in the front of the Regiment was something that has been a long time coming for me. I was lucky enough to call cadence in the St. Patrick's Day Parade last year, and to command the mass formation this year during Columbus Day, which has taught me a lot about leading by example,” Weaver said. “It is still kind of surreal to me, but the whole parade was a wonderful experience, and I'm very thankful to all of those who have helped me progress as a cadet, as a student, and as a person.”

Weaver, like many cadets before him, feels the great sense of pride that comes with representing Xavier, a 172-year-old institution, at such a historic event. 

“The word I hear most often in our discussions is tradition. The cadets feel a special obligation to march proudly knowing that generations of Sons of Xavier are standing in the cold on 5th Avenue only to watch for them,” Stein said. “It is that sense of responsibility towards and the strong desire not to disappoint their predecessors that I find most impressive.”

One such predecessor was Mike Ford ’63, who not only came to see Xavier cadets that day but got right in the formation and marched with them.

"As an alum, a former trustee, a current Regent, and a recent Hall of Fame inductee, I cherish my relationship with Xavier,” Ford said. “How wonderful it was to proudly display my affection for Xavier and my Irish heritage at the St Patrick's Day Parade! It was truly a grand day!"