Growing up in the Bronx during the 1960s our parents always dressed us in green on St. Patty's Day. Whether you were Black, Italian, Jewish, French, or Puerto Rican, on March 17th you were Irish and your name was O'Williams, O'Esposito, O'Meyerwitz, O'Dubois, or O'Sanchez. I'm a big fan of celebrating culture. This is what makes America great--the richness of its many ethnic flavors and fragrances.

This was the first year that I attended the St. Patrick's Day Parade here in Charlotte. The parade brought me back to my youth. There were people from a whole host of ethnic backgrounds participating and celebrating the day's events. There was even a Hare Krishna float strolling down the parade route chanting Eastern mantras (I'm still scratching my head over that one). The following are just a few of the images that I captured that day. Just click on the first photo and navigate to the last. Thanks!