During his rousing speech in Ballina, County Mayo, President Biden paid homage to the many Irish who have fought and died for the United States down the generations,
And he paid particular tribute to Mayo native Patrick Gallagher, in whose name and honor a U.S. Navy destroyer is currently under construction in Maine.
Said the president: "When one other Irish-Catholic President — only other one — John F. Kennedy, visited Ireland 60 years ago — and you can clap for him, man. He was something else. He presented your parliament with the flag of the regiment of that Irish Brigade, honoring Ireland’s great contributions to American freedom. It still hangs there to this day.
"It’s a legacy of faith and fidelity to freedom to one another that has been handed down generation to generation to generation.
"Today, the United States continues to honor that legacy, including that one of a Mayo-born Marine named Patrick Gallagher. Patrick immigrated to New York in 1962. He worked for the
Senate campaign of one of my political heroes, Robert F. Kennedy.
"A few years later, when he wasn’t even a U.S. citizen, Patrick joined the United States Marine Corps and deployed to Vietnam. In 1966, Patrick’s team was attacked in an ambush.
"When the enemy hurled a grenade at his team, Patrick threw himself on top of that grenade. He was willing to sacrifice his life to save his brothers-in-arms. He survived that attack, was awarded the Navy Cross for his bravery. Sadly, he was later killed in action.
"But this year, his name will be honored in iron as the United States launches a new Navy destroyer, the USS Patrick Gallagher — from Mayo."
