The Good Friday Agreement was remembered, saluted and tasked with even more work in the years ahead at a grand gathering Monday evening at Cooper Union in Manhattan.
"Reflections on the Good Friday Agreement, Twenty Five Years of Peace and Progress," was a timely reminder of what can be achieved in the face of seemingly impossible odds when politicians, political parties, and a people, put their fate in each other's hands in the pursuit of peace and societal progress.
The word "impossible" was mentioned several times during the evening with the audience in Cooper Union's Great Hall being told that in the world of human relationships all things are actually possible if hearts and minds decide that they are.
The evening's speeches and presentations were guided along by master of ceremonies Marty Glennon, while the event itself was sponsored by seven major Irish American organizations.
As much as the evening was geared towards commemoration it was also a reminder that work needs to be done along the road to a truly peaceful and reconciled island of Ireland.
Irish reunification was also a point of discussion and there was little doubt that the overwhelming sentiment in the Great Hall was in favor of such an eventuality, one that is potentially provided for in the text of the GFA.
The actual 25th anniversary of the agreement is Monday, April 10. There will be other gatherings and ceremonies on and around that date.
But Monday evening April 3 was Irish America's primary salute to a political deal that has taken hits and criticism, but has not only endured for a quarter of a century but which remains a solid and workable template for the next quarter and beyond.
Congratulations to all who worked to organize a suitable and fitting tribute to a peacemaking agreement that probably would not have seen the light of day without the activity and support of Irish America and, ultimately, the activity and support of the United States of America.
