St. Patrick's Day Parade Marshals Chosen

The annual Belmar/Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade — the state’s largest St. Patrick’s celebration –— will be lead by residents of Belmar and Wall when it steps off on March 4.

The parade committee has announced that John Carr of Belmar and Jane Guild of Wall, have been selected as grand and deputy marshals of the event, respectively.

“It’s a great honor,” said Carr, of 7th Avenue in Belmar. “It’s unexpected. I’m thrilled and looking forward to it.’’

Carr is one of the original members of the Friendly Sons of the Shillelagh, Jersey Shore Chapter, and for the past 20 years, he has held a variety of positions in the organization, including the 1st and 2nd Keeper of Shillelagh, Corresponding Secretary, Trustee, Vice President and President.

Carr has headed the annual Toy Drive committee, which benefits dozens of local charities and thousands of less fortunate families and individuals during the holidays. Carr also has helped organize the annual children’s Christmas party & Easter Egg Hunt the past 12 years.

Carr also has helped organized the Irish Heritage Night at Lakewood Blues Claws First Energy Park for more than 10 years and the Shillelagh vs. New Jersey State Police charitable Softball games at First Energy Park, which has raised $60,000 for local charities.

Carr has partnered with Wall-based charitable organization Michael’s Feat to help purchase high tech equipment for Jersey Shore University Medical Center Pediatric Unit as well as numerous other events, and drives for the benefit of local families in need.

Guild said she was coming out of a bridal shop in Englewood where her daughter just found her wedding dress when she got the call from the parade committee.

It was quite a shock, she said. She, too, was unaware she had even been in the running.

“There are a lot of deserving people, so this is quite an honor,’’ Guild said.

Guild, of Monmouth Boulevard, has lived in Wall for nearly 40 years.

An active member of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Jane is an original member of the Jerry Lynch Club that was founded in 1973. She walked in the first parade in 1974.

Guild was on the executive committee of C.A.P.E, Central Association of Parents and Educators at Central School.

Guild started visiting the Jersey Shore in 1970, frequenting the Belmar beach on weekends. She met her husband Bob that summer at Jerry Lynch’s, where he worked as an entertainer under the stage name of “Bobby Bluetooth.”

They were married on July 11, 1972, at St. Rose Church in Belmar. Jerry Lynch, Grand Marshall of the 1982 parade, sang at their wedding, and Dave Stanley, Grand Marshall of the 1980 St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Parade Chairman for many years, was Bob’s best man at their wedding.

Both marshals said they were hoping for favorable conditions the day of the parade, which last year was cold and rainy.

“I’m hoping for 70 degrees and sunny,’’ Guild said.