Senate Resolution No. 1665

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMENDING Chris Hoke upon the occasion of her
designation as Grand Marshal of the 2024 Utica St.
Patrick's Day Parade

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
individuals of true purpose and worthy accomplishment who work
diligently to preserve and celebrate their rich cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Chris Hoke upon the occasion of her designation as Grand Marshal
of the 200th Utica St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 16, 2024;
and

WHEREAS, The tradition of the Utica St. Patrick's Day Parade is
steeped in 200 years of history, with John C. Devereux leading the first
march down the Historic Brewery and Arts District of Utica; today, the
Utica Parade draws around 30,000 spectators, as about 5,000 marchers
from across the state step off from Oneida Square and head north to
Genesee Street; and

WHEREAS, The committee for this year's Utica, New York, St.
Patrick's Day Parade designated Chris Hoke as one of the highly esteemed
Grand Marshals in recognition of her devotion and passion for the
preservation and celebration of Irish culture in her community; and

WHEREAS, A long time contributor to the Irish community, Chris Hoke
is a head of the Irish Cultural Center alongside husband Mike Hoke, in
which they create, attract, and schedule Irish cultural events,
lectures, presentations, and performances that promote Irish heritage
and educate the community concerning the impact and contributions of the
Irish people in the greater Utica area and beyond; and

WHEREAS, A testament to their resilience and ambition, Chris and
Mike Hoke started the Irish Cultural Center with an empty room and no
funding and assembled a planning team, raised funding, acquired sound
and visual equipment, and booked speakers and performers to ensure a
continuous series throughout the year, all while facing the constraints
imposed by a world-wide pandemic; and

WHEREAS, For putting together an Irish cultural and educational
series that engaged and attracted both presenters and attendees from as
far away as Ireland, the inaugural Matthew T. Sullivan Irish Spirit
Award was given to Chris Hoke in 2021; and

WHEREAS, Chris Hoke has worked for the Craobh Dugan branch of
Comholtas Ceoltoiri Eireann for almost 45 years; she helped found the
branch in 1978, and in 2008, she was inducted into the Comhaltas
Ceoltoiri Eireann Northeast Region Hall of Fame; and

WHEREAS, Chris and Mike Hoke lead several trad sessions and
performances each month throughout the Utica area, and they also host an
Irish picnic at their home every August; and


WHEREAS, The two Grand Marshals have also been representatives from
the Craobh Dugan O'Looney branch for the annual North America Comhaltas
Ceoltoiri Eireann (CCE) conventions; serving as President and Treasurer
of their local branch, Chris and Mike Hoke have supplied funds from dues
and performances to members to travel to North American CCE meetings, as
well as attend various music and dance workshops; and

WHEREAS, Chris Hoke serves proudly as the Secretary of the Comhaltas
Ceoltoiri Eireann Northeast Regional Board; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when
individuals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our
attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens
of the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Chris Hoke upon the occasion of her designation as Grand Marshal
of the 2024 Utica St. Patrick's Day Parade; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Chris Hoke.