Charlie Sheen named Grand Marshal of Wenatchee St. Paddy's parade

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Monday, March 12, 2012

WENATCHEE — Hollywood bad boy Charlie Sheen has been named grand marshal of Wenatchee’s 2012 St. Patrick’s Day parade.

But if he actually shows up, it’ll be the first time in the history of the quirky parade, which dates to 1981. Egypt’s embattled former president, Hosni Mubarak, was named grand marshal of last year’s parade. Former U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney had the honor in 2006.

The parade will begin at the customary “7ish” Saturday evening, with Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz, Wenatchee police and Apple Blossom royalty leading the way.

The Mission Street to Wenatchee Avenue route — one block along Orondo Avenue — has been called by organizers the “shortest St. Patrick’s Day route in the world.

Up to 30 entries are expected to march, according to a news release by Tom Irvin of the Wenatchee Downtown Kiwanis and David Herald, owner/partner of Sunny FM Radio.

Entry forms are available at the Wenatchee Downtown Association, 103 Palouse St. and at the Sunny FM office at 33 N. Chelan Ave.

It’s also possible to “just show up,” according to the news release. No motorcycles will be allowed in the parade nor candy-throwing to the public.

The parade’s brain trust, the “Royal Order of Hibernians,” has named CEO of Godfather’s Pizza and former presidential candidate Herman Cain as the event’s public relations director.

Allen Stanford, the Texas financier convicted of fraud, has been named finance director, and model Gisele Bundchen, wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, as communications director.

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenatcheeworld.com

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Margaret 1 year, 3 months ago

oh my gosh, My Dad Jim Lynch would love Charlie Sheen as Grand Marshall! Way to keep up the tradition!

Brundage 1 year, 2 months ago

Margaret,,, Right! I am sure he would! Your Dad started this delightful "break for fun" and we should all Get into the sing of it each year. To be the Grand Marcshal of THIS parade is not unlike Time Magazine's "Man of The Year award"which bestows the title on the person who has made a big impact,,,, NOT neccessarily a GOOD impact.

Your Dad was one of the first people I met and visited with when I came to Wenatchee in 1965. His humor, knowledge and wisdom were a treasure to me for the rest of his life. - Scott

kyook 1 year, 3 months ago

Yeah, seems about right, a drug addled man whore to commemorate the patron saint of Ireland. This is about as offensive as anything I've ever heard. This would never fly on any other holiday with religious roots. Shameless.

Suz 1 year, 3 months ago

Religious roots are pretty well watered with beer and bad jokes on 3/17. Ever been to Butte Montana for their St Pat's parade. Charlie Sheen wouldn't even be noticed midst all the revelry unless he was on a float and maybe not even then.

KBoyleRealtor 1 year, 3 months ago

Seems this event has lost all connection to the real St. Patrick. He wasn't a buffoon, he was an evangelist. Oh, I know it's all in fun, but we might want to rethink what we are portraying to our kids.

mountainlion 1 year, 3 months ago

I have to agree. Sheen is not a good influence on anyone. He's a complete looser.

karilg 1 year, 3 months ago

Makes me think of the comic going around facebook, Charlie Sheen must have sneezed on Wenatchee because it is snowing.

hemphill 1 year, 3 months ago

Just to be clear ... It's been a running joke of parade organizers for more than 20 years to invite notorious names who nobody expects to attend. And they never have. — Russ Hemphill, City Editor

And for 20 years it has been insulting to those of us with Irish heritage. Where else can anybody get away with this?

My relatives from Ireland would be rolling over in their graves that anyone would be so disrespectful of the man who brought Christianity to their country.

aretee 1 year, 3 months ago

I'm Irish. My name can be traced directly back to two brothers who came to America to seek a better life. I'm not insulted in the least. It's in fun. When did we become so uppity that we can't laugh at our selves a bit? For the record I'm also Native American and I'm not insulted when the neighborhood kids play Cowboys and Indians...

Tomasklynch 1 year, 3 months ago

Lest we forget, the "Father of the St. Paddy Day Parade" was a proud Irishman who began the tradition of inviting all sorts of far fetched "celebraties." They won't show unless you invite them, so why not set your sights high??? (no pun inteneded!) The original parade was only half a block long!

jimg 1 year, 3 months ago

People are taking this waaaay too seriously. It's a joke. It's always been a joke. And I agree with Margaret, Mayor Lynch (RIP) would love this year's selection.

I wonder if the Wenatchee World could run a list of all the Grand Marshalls over the years.

Let's have a MLK parade and invite Willie Horton to be grand marshall. I wonder how that would fly?

Easter Parade with Charles Manson?

Not funny.

Oh come on Brian, Bridgette, Bonnie (B. Kelly) ??? Charlie Sheen may be reprehensible, but he's not a murderer. Get over it already.

So, reprehensible comes in degrees? I think even you can grasp the concept here, Suz, or do you need me to list other events/miscreants?

iansfolks 1 year, 3 months ago

How about grasping thiss concept. It's all about satire.

Yeah? Try some of this type of "humor" in the workplace and see where it gets you.

gayles 1 year, 3 months ago

kyook

I know where you're coming from. I'm half Norwegian. There are Norwegian parades here in the U.S. I would be offended also if the Norwegian parade organizers would designate such people as Grand Marshalls. I think it also deteriates the honor of that title.

Thank you, well said and I agree completely. I just wonder how, in this age of political correctness, anybody thinks this is OK. Probably the same people that complain about the lack of civil discourse.

I guess some people just think that St. Patrick was some drunken Leprechaun worthy only of ridicule.

Kellie 1 year, 3 months ago

I think what the real problem is exactly that, "in this age of political correctness" Lighten up people!

Dave 1 year, 3 months ago

To bad they didn't just ban drunk motorcycles.

I didn't know that motorcycles drank.

Seven 1 year, 3 months ago

I guess they dont remember Dave...

douglas 1 year, 3 months ago

The motorcycle needed Dutch courage to take part in the parade....

I was there too but I had parked my scooter after I saw all the flasks that were being passed around pre-parade. The writin' was on the wall.

Larry71 1 year, 3 months ago

However You still go to the parade. So it doesn't bother you that much.

Wrong. Haven't been back since due to the reasons I"ve mentioned above.

I think eventually the St Patrick's Day parade will have no choice but to clean up their image -stop having faux Grand Marshalls like Charlie Sheen and have real ones like any of his siblings like Emilio Estevez, Ramon Estevez and Renée Estevez or his parents Martin and Janet Sheen. How about his uncle Joe Estevez. All would be "real" Grand Marshalls.

Prohibit alcholic beverages, a police state and curfew just like Apple Blossom.

I stay away from Wenatchee during that time, taking my money elsewhere. If the Town Toyota sales tax goes through, Wenatchee will want to attract non-drunks.

Suellen, you get over it. I agree with the majority. Sheen is really someone that we can all look up to. NOT! Even if it's a joke I find no humor in it.

And it's not just Sheen, many of the other characters that have been invited to particpate have been less than reputable.

Try that on any other day and see what would happen.

Stever 1 year, 3 months ago

I know (raises hand eagerly)! Let’s invite Rush Limbaugh!

DjChelan 1 year, 3 months ago

LOL Story was just on King 5 Noon News! Go Wenatchee :) I so remember the fun parade!

Thoughtful 1 year, 3 months ago

Isn't it nearly 35 or 40 years for this parade? It would be fun to see a list of "not really" grand marshals if possible.

wenatchee350 1 year, 3 months ago

Nice

11Bravo 1 year, 3 months ago

People don't hold your breath, I doubt Charlie will show up this year. RIP Jim Lynch, you were my favorite politician!

barleywine 1 year, 3 months ago

Too bad — I was hoping for Rush Limbaugh this time. I guess he'll be in Seattle, riding the SLUT (South Lake Union Transit) instead.

LOL! Thank you for the chuckle.

Consider that the Father of the St. Patrick's Day Parade was Irish. His grandparents came from Ireland. The Irish in him took nothing so seriously; We laugh at ourselves, that is our nature. If you don't like it, don't go to the parade, just please, don't rain on mine!!! I am proud of my father for bringing this parade to town and wish that I could be there to celebrate in memorandum!

Several times here a point was made that, "On ANY OTHER DAY, "this" would not happen.I can see it now,,,

Jim Lynch sitting across the table from me as we shared a coffee break. An impish grin crossing his face as we heard someone say that about the St. Patties parade, "Now, I tell ya laddie," He would say, "That's the point! But there ought to be one day in a year, when even a serious old man like me-self can laugh at ANYONE!"

And I think he might say then, "Tho I'm not quite sure I know what you mean when yore sayin''"THIS" would never happen. Do you mean that proud n'serious red blooded American veterans like me-self would ever drink green beer and wear silly hats and talk about "The Little People" like they was real?"

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