John W. Fischer is a Former Captain at Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and Retired Paramedic Firefighter Captain. He was born and raised in New York and moved down to South Florida in 1982. Fischer went to school to become a Florida State Certified Firefighter EMT / Paramedic, and was hired by Palm Beach County Fire Rescue in 1986. John faithfully served the citizens of Delray Beach and Palm Beach County for 27 years, retiring in April of 2017.
In 2009, John was afforded the opportunity to spruce up the Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade, by implementing uniformed 1st Responders (Law Enforcement / Firefighters / Paramedics) from around the United States, and five other countries from around the world, along with Delray Beach Firefighters and Police Officers, to lead the parade.
The Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade was founded by a man by the name of Maury Power, back in 1968. Maury was a local Delray Beach Irish Pub owner, and legend has it, he began the parade by marching down Atlantic Ave. with a green pig on a leash.
The parade and festival is produced by Code 3 Events, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports charitable groups, public service, and special community projects. While many of the organizations selected to receive assistance have been law enforcement, firefighter, and emergency medical service related nonprofit organizations, they also seek to support education, children’s programs, and health, wellness & fitness.
The parade highlights over 30 local nonprofits; businesses, schools, civic organizations, veterans; and showcases Emergency Service personnel including police officers, firefighters, and EMS from all across the United States, and as far away as Belgium, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and France.
The citizens of Delray Beach continue to enjoy and support their St Patrick’s Day Parade by bringing a sense of community unity and presenting a positive role model image for children. The uniformed multi-national Emergency Service ambassadors are blended in with the rest of society for a great cause. The event has evolved and grown over the years to become Florida’s premiere hometown parade!
Next year, will be the 50th Annual Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade. And as Irish luck would have it, 2019 St. Patrick’s Day (March 17th) falls on a Saturday, and they will be honoring Maury by landing the parade on the sacred day, and showcasing his family up front to lead the parade.
🍀 For more information and ways to get involved, please visit and support stpatrickmarch.com
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Photo Courtesy: James Greene at Delray Camera Shop
