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Former Emmetsburg police chief will lead St. Patrick’s Day parade

-Messenger photo by Anna Veltri
The Emmetsburg St. Pat’s Association announced this year’s grand marshal for the St. Patrick’s Day celebration recently. This year, former Emmetsburg Police Chief Eric Hanson will lead the parade through the streets of Emmetsburg. Pictured above are some members of the St. Pat’s board, as well as last year’s recipient, Frank Kliegl, left, congratulating Hanson on the honor.

EMMETSBURG — Each year the St. Pat’s Association announces the grand marshal who is responsible for leading the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.

This year’s grand marshal is former Emmetsburg Police Chief Eric Hanson.

Hanson retired in January after more than 30 years on the Emmetsburg Police Department. He has participated in St. Pat’s festivities, but only from a law enforcement standpoint.

This year, Hanson gets to experience St. Patrick’s Day as an Emmetsburg civilian.

Hanson is not a part of the St. Pat’s Association board, but has always had a positive experience working with them around the holiday.

“My daughter was Miss Shamrock in 2004, and I saw how well St. Pat’s treated her,” Hanson said.

Hanson joined the Emmetsburg Police Department in July 1985. Since that time he has participated in St. Patrick’s Day celebrations as a law enforcement official.

This year he will lead the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Hanson received a call from current Police Chief Ryan Veldboom telling him that he had to see something. Veldboom took him to the St. Pat’s shop in downtown Emmetsburg where the committee made the announcement of Hanson’s selection.

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