One of the oldest traditions of the modern parade is the Street Naming.  Beginning in 1956, when the parade was re-established, Church Street was re-named John Costello Boulevard in honor of Ireland’s Prime Minister.  The tradition has held ever since.

Carol Hackett honored at the 2008 Parade Ball

1993 Grand Marshal Bill Hackett, and Carol, Parade Day 1993

On Sunday, March 16, 2014, the official dedication ceremony will take place at the corner of Church & Chapel Streets – naming that corner to be “Carol Hackett Boulevard”.

Carol was a dedicated & committed member of the St. Patrick’s Day Committee for over 33 years, serving for many years the Committee’s Treasurer — an important and time consuming job — for 13 years, until 2012. For many years, Carol also lovingly made of our Parade sashes, and it had become a tradition that she was given the honor of “sashing” many of our officers over the years.

Carol Hackett sashes Timothy Gallogly

Carol’s husband of 53 years, Bill Hackett, her son-in-law Coleman Walsh, both former parade Grand Marshals, and one of her five children, Donna Hackett Walsh, display the sign that will identify the corner renamed in her honor.

Carol Hackett passed away while vacationing in Florida last year; she is extremely missed by all and her memory will live on with every step of the marchers throughout the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

It is only fitting that the City of New Haven bestow the Hackett family by naming the corner after their loved one, Carol.

View the Proclamation here:

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