MORRISTOWN – On a day dedicated to the Irish, the most poignant moment was a group of marchers displaying the blue and yellow colors of Ukraine.

A message was not necessary, but one was offered nonetheless – “Stand with Ukraine.”

The annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is a big deal here, ordinarily drawing thousands and thousands and turning the heart of this historic town into a community celebration of sorts. Streets are closed. The bars overflow with revelers and everyone is in a good mood.

Today’s parade was the first since 2019 – COVID cancelled the last two.

It was originally scheduled for last week, but bad weather postponed it seven days. The one-week delay plus a forecast of rainy weather today seemed to hold down the crowd a bit. But there was no rain and the festivities went on as planned.

The tribute to Ukraine was most appropriate, even if the blue and yellow banner clashed a bit with the green that was all around.

Many politicians love parades. The marchers include some of the region’s state lawmakers – Assembly members Aura Dunn, Brian Bergen and Christian Barranco. County Commissioners Stephen Shaw. Deborah Smith, John Krickus and Tayfun Selen were on hand as well. As were Sheriff James Gannon and Surrogate Heather Darling.

Chip Robinson, the chair of the Morris County Democratic Committee, was looking ahead with optimism. As Robinson arrived at the parade’s “shape-up” area behind town hall, he was asked about the coming midterms.

“I think everything is going to calm down,” he said, and when that happens, voters are going to see how good they have it with the two Democrats who represent parts of Morris County – Mikie Sherrill in CD-11 and Tom Malinowski in CD-7.

Robinson explained that with Ukraine and related foreign policy issues front and center, the expertise of Sherrill, a one-time Navy pilot and Russian policy officer, and Malinowski, a former Undersecretary in the State Department, will be obvious.

Former Parsippany Mayor Mike Soriano, who was with Robinson, pointed out that a recent bipartisan House delegation to Ukraine included both Sherrill and Malinowski.

“Seven and Eleven,” is how Soriano put it.

Speaking of CD-11, Selen, who is now the frontrunner for the district’s Republican congressional nomination after he won the Morris endorsement, made the rounds introducing himself to potential voters.

One he met needs no persuasion. That was former state Assemblyman Michael P. Carroll who always marches with a Civil War reenactment group.

Two things about the always colorful Carroll.

One is that he said he doesn’t miss being in the Assembly at all; he didn’t seek reelection in 2019.

He said, why should I miss “beating my head against the wall?” That was his way of saying the only thing Republicans can do in Democratic-controlled Trenton is oppose measures that are going to pass anyway and support initiatives that aren’t.

The other thing is that along with dressing like a Union soldier, Carroll also carries a Civil War-era rifle.

Three years ago, he tried to give the rifle to a bewildered Phil Murphy who was in attendance that year. Carroll is a funny guy.

Carroll, of course, had his rifle today, but the governor was not there.

What a pity.