LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Maurice Landers upon the occasion of his
designation as a Deputy Grand Marshal of the 37th Annual Queens County
St. Patrick's Day Parade, March 3, 2012

WHEREAS, St. Patrick's Day is a time for people of all nationalities and
generations to assemble and celebrate the rich culture and heritage of
the Irish people throughout these United States; and
WHEREAS, A St. Patrick's Day Parade reflects and records the ongoing
history of the United States and Ireland, and highlights the many
contributions and historical accomplishments of the Irish community in
this diverse land; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Maurice
Landers upon the occasion of being named a Deputy Grand Marshal of the
37th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade, to be held on Satur-
day, March 3, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Also being honored as Deputy Grand Marshals at this year's
Queens County St. Patrick's Day Parade are Maureen Donachie, Mary Ellen
Murray, Ralph Reed, Richard Keane, Mark C. Edwards, Laura Sporny, Sister
Agnes White, C.S.J., Eileen McDonald, and Michael Charles Schramm, Jr.;
and
WHEREAS, In addition, the 37th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day
Parade will honor Kevin O'Brien as Grand Marshal of the parade, Thomas
Flood and Eileen Long-Chelales as Honorary Grand Marshals and Edward
Rice and Paddy McCarthy as Gaels of the Year; and
WHEREAS, All of this year's honorees are fittingly being recognized
for their service in their individual fields to the Irish and Irish-Am-
ericans throughout New York State; and
WHEREAS, Maurice Landers, a native of Limerick, Ireland, has been very
instrumental in service to the Irish community in New York and in help-
ing to find employment for newly arrived immigrants; and
WHEREAS, He is a member of the Limerickmen's Association and numerous
other organizations in New York including Failte 32, an initiative
designed to help Irish J-1 visa holders, and holders of other types of
work visas, find employment in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Failte 32 was organized by a few business people in the
Irish-American community in New York City and is supported by a network
of affiliated Irish-American organizations and Strategic Partners and
has been featured on "Morning Ireland," "Ireland Calls Radio" as well as
in the IRISH EXAMINER (Ireland), IRISH EXAMINER USA, and the NEW YORK
DAILY NEWS, and on local and national radio stations on both sides of
the Atlantic and was given mention on NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy
Fallon Show"; and
WHEREAS, Failte 32 organizers are very grateful for the support of the
Irish Consulate, in particular the former Consul General, Hon. Niall
Burgess, who supported Failte 32 from the beginning which helped get the
initiative off the ground; and
WHEREAS, The idea for Failte 32 developed after Paul Hurley read an
article in the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS about the very difficult time young
Irish people were having finding employment in the United States and
felt that it was his duty to do something about it; and
WHEREAS, A committee, including the organizers, Paul Hurley, Paddy
McCarthy and Maurice Landers, and the heads of the main influential
Irish American organizations in New York City, was formed to discuss how
they could best support these newest arrivals and, the result was Failte
32; and
WHEREAS, Failte 32 was formally launched by the then Consul General,
The Honorable Niall Burgess, in May 2010; shortly thereafter a televised

post-launch meeting/party was held at O'Casey's Bar and Restaurant which
included a large number of J-1 visa holders, some of whom were inter-
viewed on that day; and
WHEREAS, Since then, the Shamrock Fund was launched to support eligi-
ble visa holders by paying their annual dues to Irish-American business
and community organizations to help them actively network for employ-
ment; and
WHEREAS, Maurice Landers truly embodies the spirit and the cherished
ideals and values of Irish-Americans of this great State and nation; 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
honor Maurice Landers upon the occasion of his/her designation as a
Deputy Grand Marshal of the 37th Annual Queens County St. Patrick's Day
Parade, to be held on March 3, 2012; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Maurice Landers.