An Okinawa children's dance group struts their stuff during the second Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Okinawa City on Saturday. (David Allen / S&S)
An Okinawa children's dance group struts their stuff during the second Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Okinawa City on Saturday. (David Allen / S&S)
Marine Cpl. Ben Orga and Lance cpl. Ryan Thomas flank Bobbie Vinson, a civilian base employee who painted herself green for the St. Patrick's Day celebration in Okinawa City on Saturday. Since there is a restriction on consuming alcohol off-base for active duty servicemembers on Okinawa, the two Marines said they'd do their celebrating later, when they returned to MCAS Futenma. (David Allen / S&S)
Bagpiper Manly Slough and Martin McIntrye share a moment before leading the 2nd Annual Okinawa City St. Patrick's Day Parade Saturday. McIntrye, owner of Paddy Mac's Irish Pub was a co-sponsor of the event. (David Allen / S&S)
Bagpiper Manly Slough, 59, gets his pipes ready while an apreciative foursome of young girls look on. Slough is assistant plant manager for AAFES' bakery on Camp Kinser. (David Allen / S&S)
Irush pub owner Martin McIntrye, center, leads the 2nd Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Okinawa City, Saturday. The turnout was less than expected, which some attributed to the current ban on consuming alcohol off base for all active duty servicemembers. (David Allen / S&S)
OKINAWA CITY — Friday’s rain was forgotten Saturday, as the sun shone down on participants wearing green in the city’s second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
Although the turnout was not as high as expected, everyone seemed to take seriously the old saying that, “Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day.” Green-tinted beer — or green tea and green colored soft drinks for active-duty military personnel — washed down generous helpings of Irish beef stew, fish and chips, Okinawa yakitori and other local cuisine.
The entire length of Park Avenue, a popular strip of bars, restaurants and clothing stores, was closed for the event.
Martin McIntyre, owner of a popular Irish pub on the strip, led the parade, which featured a bagpiper, and the III Marine Expeditionary Force Band. It also featured a children’s dance troupe and a local marching band.
The parade was followed by live Irish and Okinawa music on an outdoor stage.
The five-hour stage show also featured a clown show and demonstrations of karate and kendo.
About 200 people attended the event, fewer than organizers expected. Some in the crowd attributed it to the current off-base alcohol ban for active-duty military personnel. The restriction was ordered in the wake of several recent off-base incidents, including two alleged rapes.
The ban, however, did not seem to limit the enthusiasm of some young Marines attending the event.
“We’ll just do our drinking when we get back to base,” said a Marine lance corporal.
“I’ll drink some green beer for him,” said a civilian friend.
There was a notable lack of young servicemembers in Paddy Mac’s Irish Pub, a situation unheard of during previous St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
“The alcohol ban is hurting all of the businesses out here,” McIntyre said. “We’re all just praying it doesn’t last long.”
