Grand Marshal For Morris St. Patrick's Parade Is From Morris Plains

MORRIS PLAINS, NJ — It's never too early to start organizing for the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade, one of the county's most anticipated events, which will be led this year by a local.

Jack Haren Jr., a Morris Plains resident, has been chosen as this year's grand marshal for the annual parade by the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade Committee.

Haren and his wife Eilleen have lived in Morris Plains for the past 48 years with their three adult children, Christin, Michelle and John.

“We’re very excited to have Jack lead us down South Street this year,” said Mike Leavy, Publicity Coordinator, St. Patrick’s Parade Committee. “His passion for Irish history and culture makes him an excellent representative of the Irish experience in America.”

Haren is a first-generation Irish American who was raised in upper Manhattan by parents from County Kerry and County Clare. He graduated from Fordham University in 1969 and subsequently served as an active-duty Signal Corps Lieutenant in the United States Army for two years.

According to his grand marshal profile, he is a member of the American Legion Post 59 in Morristown and the site organizer for Wreaths Across America, which puts wreaths on the graves of veterans in over 2200 cemeteries across the United States.

Haren's interest in Irish history led him to join the Executive Committee of the Archbishop Hughes Commemorative Project, which commemorated the 200th anniversary of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in lower Manhattan.

The Morris Plains resident is a member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick and co-chair of the organization's Heritage Committee, which plans tours to historical locations such as Manhattan's Five Points as well as the Molly McGuire and Irish Famine museums.

Haren retired as Mohawk Fine Paper Company's president in 2017 and now serves as a member of the Morristown Knights of Columbus George Washington Council.

The 2024 Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade will take place in Morristown on Saturday, March 9, at 12 p.m. Since 1979, the Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade has been the largest in New Jersey, with over 20 bands and over 4,000 marchers.

The Morris County St. Patrick's Day Parade has been a long-cherished tradition for all residents, dating back to the winter of 1779-1780 in Jockey Hollow, Morristown.

The parade is totally self-funded, with no public funds being used. According to officials, it is completely sponsored by generous donations from businesses and individual sponsors, so there is no expense to taxpayers.

For the past 36 years, the parade organizers have taken great pride in providing a safe, fun-filled day for Morris County citizens and their families to enjoy in Morristown at no cost, and they intend to continue doing so in the future.