THE HOISTED PINT
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
JANUARY 28, 2010~6:00PM
CELTIC TAVERN~RIVERSIDE
2620 W BELLEVIEW AVE.
LITTLETON, COLO.
April 2009 Copyright 2003 Vol. 28 No. 28
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John Joseph O'Donnell
By David O'Shea-Dawkins
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COLORADO EMERALD SOCIETY
P. O. Box 40211, Denver, Colo. 80204
David O'Shea-Dawkins (Ret.) Denver PD
President
Steve O'Neill, (Ret.)Dept. of Defense
Vice-President
Daniel Farley, (Ret.) Denver Fire Dept.
2nd Vice-President
Tin Turley, (Ret.) Juvenile Probation
Treasurer
Patti Kennedy Riedel, JeffCo DA
Secretary
Trustees:
Chris Molloy, Denver Sheriffs
Kryss Bryant, Sheridan Police
Brian Rohleder, Denver Fire Department
Associate Delegate:
Michael Cleary, (Ret.)
Newsletter Editor: David O'Shea-Dawkins
Printer: JeffCo Schools, Rick Rowe
THANKS DENVER ST. PATRICK'S DAY PARADE COMMITTEE FOR A GRAND 2009 PARADE
2008 Annual Dues
Charter $40
Charter Retired $30
Charter Closed
Active $30
Active Retired $20
Associate $30
Auxiliary $30
Auxiliary Retired $20
Life Membership-10 Times the Amount of Your Dues, plus $100 Dollars.
~Like this page ~May the Wind be Always at Your...Back~
VINCENT "PAT" KENNEDY
1918-2009
Past-Presidents
George Kennedy,(Ret.) Denver Police Department (2000-2004)
Brian Rielly, (Ret.)(2004-2008)
U.S. Parks Police
CES Founders
George Kennedy
Danny Neary Veith, Denver Police Dept.
Pipe Major:
Steve Johnston, West Metro "Fire
ST.PAT'S MARCH
By Dave O'Shea-Dawkins
The Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade march will be Saturday, March, 13, 2010 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Samrockin is the theme this year and the Grand Marshall's will be the Bridies from Ireland. The Bridies' music fuses Celtic music with rock n' roll representing the best of Shamrockin.
We will follow the same routine as we did last year. We will meet at the Irish Rover, 54 S Broadway, at 8:00 a.m. and will be provided an Irish breakfast by our friend and proprietor. Please park your cars in the bank parking lot just west of the Irish Rover, IN THE FAR NORTHWEST SECTION. From the Rover we will be bussed to the staging area at Coors Field. We should be in the front of the Parade again this year. After the march the buses will pick us up in the 1900 block of Larimer for a ride back to the Rover.
The big change this year will be the inclusion of CES member's families. Family members will march behind the CES uniformed and non-uniformed members. We will provide a float and banners that recognize our families as the strength behind the men and women who have chosen public safety careers.
Updates will be provided on the CES email network, coemersoc@comcast.net and this website on the "Parade" link.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
By Dave O'Shea-Dawkins
This year the Colorado Emerald Society has reached a milestone- WE ARE 10 YEARS OLD! Many thanks to all members past and present who have added their expertise and personalities to the historical record and success of our Society. Without the likes of you all we would not have the grand reputation that we enjoy in the Colorado public safety and the Irish American communities.
Our showcase is the Denver St. Patrick's Day Parade and we encourage our members to join us for this 10 Anniversary March. There are several Irish American families who have several family members in public safety and we would like to see you march as a family. Please make every effort to join us this year.
The CES began at Nallen's Irish Pub so it would be most appropriate to return and celebrate a Hoisted Pint Hour at Nallen's. Stay tuned to your email and this newsletter as we prepare for an anniversary special at Nallen's Irish Pub.
The CES golf tournament is in the planning stages and will probably tee off in the early part of June. The Colorado United Irish Societies (CUIS) will host the Irish Festival in Clement Park July 9, 10 & 11. We are members of CUIS and we will be staffing our booth at the festival and will be asking for volunteers for the booth as well as the Irish Festival. The membership appreciation free picnic at Tanglewood Park will be held in August and a special Summer'Fall membership meeting is under negotiations for Blackhawk. Our Christmas celebration is scheduled for December 11th, 2010 on Friday night.
In between these events we will schedule our Hoisted Pint Hours, general membership meetings and other important events relevant to our organization. As soon as we finalize dates we will inform you through the CES email network, the CES newsletter and this website on the "Socials" link.
Please contact us at coemersoc@comcast .net or PO Box 40211, Denver, CO. 80204 if you have any questions, suggestions or answers.
JOHN JOSEPH O'DONNELL
(Continued from adjacent column)
SLAINTE!
Cahir, County Tipperary, Ireland may be as low in altitude as Victor, Colorado is high. Hannah Mahony immigrated from Cahir to the United States in 1865 and Martin O'Donnell followed in 1873. They married in Buena Vista in 1888 and rode the train to Leadville for their wedding reception.
By 1899 Martin was living and mining in Victor supporting Hannah and their three childred, John J. (known as Jay), Mary and William J. Coincidently, my first cousin, three times removed, Alice Slattery, and her husband, Dennis Carlon, a mill foreman, were living in Victor near the O'Donnell address of 114 Spicer Ave.
In August of 1899 Victor was ravished by fires, destroying much of the infrastructure, plagued by labor unrest, spearheaded by the Western Federation of Miners (WFM), and gold mines stopped producing when the purchasing power of gold decreased.
Possibly due to the work situation in Victor, Martin had moved away from his family on Strattonia between 1900 and 1910. Jay moved during this period possibly looking for work and his father. By 1920 Jay was living with his mother and brother, William at 118 S First St. Hannah was a widow in 1920.
In 1930 John Joseph O'Donnell was living with his divorced sister, Maria Richardosn, in Denver residing at 422 S Sherman St. Jay was a police officer for the city of Denver.
In 1930 the officers of the Denver Police Department witnessed the installation of one-way radios installed in 40 vehicles. The officer's wore new style uniforms-single breasted, four-button, roll-collared blouse with a short overcoat, eight-pointed cap, Sam Browne belts and holsters. On June 5 , 1931, at a cost of $12,000.00, a new south Denver sub-station at Broadway & Center Ave. was opened. It was not far from Jay's home on S. Sherman St.
Jay joined the police department on January 16th, 1929. He reprotedly walked a beat in the west Washington Park neighborhood. By 1934 he was working in east Denver and assigned to a radio patrol car.
Jay was not scheduled to work on March 22nd, 1934 but he traded days off with another patrolman. He attended roll call on what would have been his regular day off and was assigned to a radio patrol car, probably a 1930 Ford Model-A, with Patrolman Clarence Fraker.
Fraker was Colorado born and with his wife, Ethel, they were rasing three sons and a daughter at 3450 Ash St. in east Denver in 1934. On March 22ne Clarence Fraker went to work leaving his children in the caring hand os Ethel.
Sometime during their shift O'Donnell and Fraker were on a run using the red light and siren on the patrol car. Jay was driving. Witnesses report that the officers had the right-of-way as they approached the intersection of E. 25th Ave. & Marion St. But the right-of-way, a red light and siren "sounding" could not protect them from a car driven by a drunk driver. They were struck on the left front and Jay was thrown out. He died at the scene of a fractured skull. Clarence Fraker died the next day.
(Continued in the next column)
The driver of the vehicle that struck them, a man called Kreck, was taken to police headquarters until the police surgeon could determine that he was under the influence of alcohol. It was so and he was charged with manslaughter.
John Jospeh O'Donnell and Clarence Fraker were the thirty-first and thirty-second, respectively, Denver officers to die in the line of duty.
Another son of Erin who picked up the badge of safety to protect his fellow citizens and in so doing sacraficed his own life. We are respectful, proud and humbled by the dedication of John Joseph O'Donnell and his partner, Clarence E. Fraker, who died in the line of duty.
John Joseph O'Donnell is the great-uncle of Colorado Emerald Society member Bill O'Donnell who provided the information about his great uncle for this article. Many members will know Bill from his musical accomplishments with the Irish band, Juice O' The Barley. Bill adds that Jay died on his grandfather, William O'Donnell's, birthday.
SCOTT HUGHES
By David O'Shea-Dawkins
I received a letter from Pipe Major Scott Hughes of the Colorado Emerald Society Pipes & Drums Band who informed me that he will be stepping down as Pipe Major, however he will continue fo participate as a piper.
Scott's current assignment with the Denver Police Department and his responsibilities to his family do not allow him to commit himself to the band as he would like. He had been an integral member of the Band and their successes, including statewide recognition and honor for the CES Pipes & Drums Band as the official pipe band for the Colorado Law Enforcement Memorial and the Fallen Fire Fighter's Memorial.
Go raibh maith agat, Scott! Thank you for your dedication to the Band and for the sacrifices you made to insure that the CES Pipes & Drums would be successful. Scott's professionalism and musical talent are impressive and we are happy that he will remain as a piper.
Steve Johnston of West Metro Fire will take over as the CES Pipes & Drums Pipe Major. Steve is very competent and Scott writes that he is " an excellent piper (who) has been very dedicated to the success of the pipe band. His vision & musical direction will be a great benefit to the band's growth and continued success."
IN THE LINE OF DUTY
By David O'Shea-Dawkins
Reportedly the playing of bagpipes at police and fire funerals in the United States was most prevalent after 1845 after many Irish immigrated to America due to the failure of their potato crops and the starvation policies of the Royal Crown.
The newly arrived Irish were dirt poor, uneducated, Catholic, spoke Irish and were alienated from a dominant Protestant citizenry.
They remained within their clans, practiced their traditions and were willing to take on dangerous jobs that were usually shunned by many Americans.
Police and fire employment attracted so many Irish Americans that of "New York City's 1149 policemen in 1855, 431 were immigrants, 305 of them Irish." wrote Edward Wakin in his book, Enter the Irish-American. According to Wakin, "Thirty years later, the Irish proportion of the New York force was almost twice the proportion of the city's population." Waken does not mention firemen, but one can extrapolate similar statistics from Waken's accounts.
Due to the nature of their professions and the dangers associated with their jobs, many Irish American police and firemen were killed in the line of duty. This may especially be true of firemen who were killed en masse at fires that ravaged neighborhoods in the 19th Century. At funerals pipers mourned the loss of their Celtic brethren with sounds that may have imitated the lament of a Banshee of the eerie keening at the wake of a departed soul.
Who has not heard the Piper at a church or cemetery and not been moved to tears of prided at the ancient sounds of our ancestors?
The drone of the pipes speaks to the tragedy of the death of a fallen police of fire warrior. The bravery and commitment of our heroes is spoken in the winds of the piper as they escape the bagpipe and dance toward our sorrow and pride.
2010 CES BY-LAW CHANGES
The major changes (as shown in red) to the Colorado Emerald Society by-laws follow:
- Addition of Life Membership
- Change of wording in Active Membership
- Change of wording in Associate Membership
- Change of Voting for Associate & Auxiliary
- Addition of death benefit for Line of Duty death
- Addition of Merchandise and Pipe Band BY-Laws
Article III, Section1
"There shall be five (5) classes of membership:
1. Life
2. Active
3. Associate
4. Honorary
5. Auxiliary
Article III
Section 2
a. Life Membership shall be open to any member in
good standing in the Society at the time of
applying for Live Membership.
Section 3
a. Active membership shall be open to all active &
retired paid sworn law enforcement personnel,
paid /career firefighters and paid paramedics
of Gaelic descent...
b. All members shall be eligible to vote on matters
pertaining to the Society, except for Brehon
Council election. Associate and Auxiliary
members shall be eligible to vote for their respec-
tive representatives to the Brehon Council.
Section 4 Associate Membership...
Section 5. Honorary Membership...
c. Honorary members are entitled to
attend meetings and social activities
of the Society.
Section 6. Auxiliary Members
a. Auxiliary membership shall consist of
non-Gaelic paid law enforcement
personnel, non-Gaelic paid/career
firefighters and non-Gaelic paid
paramedics who possess the Irish
spirit. Auxiliary membership is also
extended to all Armed Forces/Coast
Guard and Veterans possessing the
Irish Spirit.
Article VI
Section 2. All meetings shall follow the most recent
edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
Article X
Section 2: The permanent committees shall be:
d. Activities/Social Committee
e. Elections Committee
f. Membership Committee
g. By-Lays Committee
h. Pipe Band Committee
i. Merchandise Committee
Article XI Dues
Section 1 Life Members
The dues of Life Members, as defined in
Article III, Section 1, shall be:
- Ten times (10) the amount of their dues at the
of applying, plus one hundred dollars($100).
Section 2. Active Members
- $30 (Thirty dollars) to join at any time of the year...
- $20 (Twenty dollars) to join at any time of
the year... if member is retired.
- Charter Membership is closed.
Section 3. Associate Members
- $30 (Thirty dollars) upon joining at any time of the year & $30 per annum.
Section 4. Auxiliary Members
The dues for Auxiliary members...
- $30 (Thirty dollars upon joining at any time of the year and $30 per annum...
$20 (Twenty dollars) any time of the year
and $20 ...retired.
Article XII Amendments
These by-laws may be altered, amended,
repealed or added to by an affirmative vote
of not less than twenty (20) members of the
Society.
Article XVI Benefits
Section 1. Death Benefits
The Colorado Emerald Society will provide a $1,000
death benefit to an Active member killed in the line of duty.
Death Benefit will be dispersed as soon as possible by the Colorado Emerald Society Brehon Council upon notification of such line of duty death.
Section 2. Scholarship Fund
The Colorado Emerald Society will provide scholarship monies in an amount to be determine yearly by the "Scholarship Committee." The annual fundraiser will fund such monies.
Ni neart go cur le cheile
2010 CES BY-LAW CHANGES
(Continued)
Article XVII- MERCHANDISE
a. Purchase, set pricing for, and delivers merchandise for Society member and public consumption, in accordance with the approval of the Brehon Council.
b. Maintain detailed purchase/sale records, receipts
c. Assist Brehon Council with pertinent merchandise information to supply to members via newsletters and to update the CES website.
d. Attend /Assist with the Merchandise Booths at various social functions as required.
e. Report activity and financial status to the Brehon Council.
Article XVIII- PIPE BAND
a. The Pipes & Drums Band exists to support Firefighting and Law Enforcement communities, activities within those communities and their parent organization, the Colorado Emerald Society. The Pipes & Drums Band will continue with these efforts being the primary focus of the band.
b. The Colorado Emerald Society is hereby recognized as the Pipe Band's parent organization even though they will continue to both exist under independent leadership. The organizations shall be joined with a commonality of reporting as follows:
1. The Pipes & Drums Band appointed treasurer shall provide a quarterly accounting of all monies received or spent to the Brehon Council.
2. The Pipe Major or officers will appoint a delegate to attend Society and Brehon Council meetings for scheduling purposes of both Society and Pipe Band needs.
3. The Pipes & Drums Band delegate will be allowed
to make formal request of the Society in an amount determined by the Society.
a. Such monies will be used to cover in or out of state functions or other activities occasionally arising.
b. Such monies shall be pre-approved whenever possible.
c. Reimbursements will be submitted for Brehon Council review and may or may not be approved.
Scott Hughes Pipin'
at the Irish Rover
Caoimhin Connell Piping at Father O'Shea's Funeral
Post St. Patrick's Day Parade Debriefing
