This year's Marshal is no stranger to marching. He has marched in the prestigious Holyoke parade for over 40 years. He is always found with the Springfield contingent in his role as a bagpiper in the Springfield Kiltie Band.  This year he will lead the town of West Springfield as our Marshal.   On a recent night in December past Marshals gathered with Committee members to choose the 2018 Marshal, and after the votes were tabulated, the choice was James "Jim" Martin.

   Jim was humble and excited about the news and immediately started to learn what the Marshal participates in during our "Season of the Green." Jimmy arrived at our meeting place to celebrate what is bound to be an exciting time for both himself and his wife Ellen.

    Jim's heritage begins from as far back as his Great-Grandmother, Mary 

O'Connor, who was born in Dublin, Ireland.  His maternal grandmother Catherine O'Connor, immigrated to Springfield, MA in the early 1900's.  Jim resided with his Grandmother during his college years, and met his wife Ellen.  They dated the four years that Jim was in college and married in 1967.  They are the very proud parents of three children, Mary Bakr, Christopher and Sean.  Their children thrilled them with six grandchildren to spoil!

   Jim and Ellen moved to West Springfield in 1971, when Jim accepted the position of Supervisor of Special Education for the West Springfield School Department.  In 1980, Jim accepted the position f Director of Special Ed at Pathfinder Regional, Vocational High School in Palmer.   He celebrated his retirement in 2003 from Pathfinder. 

   Besides being a bagblower, an endearing term used by his close friends, he volunteered throughout the town. When his children were small and playing Rec soccer, Jim coached boys U11 soccer.  He also is a proud and very active member of the Lions Club. He has been a member since 1977.  He has served as President for four terms throughout the years.  Jim started the Food Committee that helps non-profits raise funds for their organizations.  They can be seen at pancake breakfasts, the Ecumenical Outreach dinners, etc.  Because of their volunteerism for these organizations Jim and his Kitchen Crew were given the Charles J. DeAngelus Award for outstanding contribution to District 33Y Emergency Sight and Hearing Treatment Memorial Foundation.  During Jim's first term as president of the Lions Club he was instrumental in obtaining funds for a new athletic scoreboard at Clark Field.

Jim is a quiet, yet passionate man.  While watching a show on television, Jim was impressed with the function of the Thermal Imaging Helmet used by fire departments.  They are used to look for victims of fire in burning buildings.  He was informed that West Side, at the time, did not have such a device.  He took it upon himself to raise the funds to purchase this important device.  Any free weekend he had he could be found playing his pipes at various business establishments and ask for donations from the public.  He also solicited many civic groups in town asking for donations and they all donated what they could to the cause.  The helmets cost $25,000. ea, and Jim raised $19,000. in his own.  At that point the WS Chamber of Commerce donated the last $6,000.  This allowed the Fire Department to purchase their first Thermal Imaging Helmet.

   If you know Jim, you know that he still visits these local businesses that were mentioned above, helping out as kind of a security man.  He can be found, morning or night, observing the goings on around him and probably watching an old Western on the special, reserved television.  He donates his time doing this form of work, too, and has made many friends throughout the years.

   Playing the bagpipes is his favorite thing to do, no matter the season.  He played at my son's and many others weddings, funerals, anniversaries, graduations, and other special occasions.  He tried to teach me to play them, and I still have my practice pipes, but "tried" is the important word mentioned.  He has been a member of the Springfield Kiltie Band since 1974.   

   Jim, we hope you have a great day with the West Springfield Irish, and the town as a whole.  We are all thrilled that you are being recognized with such a prestigious award.  We know that the pipes won't be far from you, and hopefully, you'll be donning your kilt, as you make your way down the streets of Holyoke on March 18th.  You and Ellen will be welcomed with open arms by the hundreds of thousands of well wishers waving on the way.

   Jim will be officially presented with the shillelagh as 2018 Marshal at the Cead Mile Faitle on Saturday, January 27.  The event will be held at the Springfield Country Club.