St. Patrick's Day Parade Grand Marshal: NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly

By Alicia Colon

"It was a shock ... a pleasant one but a shock." So said this year's grand marshal of the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly. "I never dreamed I'd one day be the grand marshal but I could not be more proud," he said.

I had traveled to police headquarters at One Police Plaza to interview this year's honoree who will lead the legendary parade that first took place in the city on March 17, 1762, and included Irish soldiers serving in the British military.

The parade organizers could not have picked a grand marshal with a closer connection with the historic march. Throughout his tenure with the NYPD, Commissioner Kelly was either policing the parade or marching in it. In fact, he said he was involved at every rank he held in 25 different commands.

Born and raised in Manhattan on the Upper West Side on Sept. 4, 1941, Commissioner Kelly is a second-generation American whose father was a milkman and whose mother was a dressing-room checker at Macy's.

Belying the stereotype of difficult marriages among policemen, Commissioner Kelly has been happily married to his wife, Veronica, for 45 years. He has two sons: His first born, James, was named after Commissioner Kelly's father and was born in New York City while Commissioner Kelly was serving in combat in Vietnam. On the back wall of the police commissioner's office there's a striking picture of a young Ray Kelly in Marine combat gear.

Commissioner Kelly received his commission as a second lieutenant in the Corps in 1963. In 1965, he went to the Republic of Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion 1st Marines and led troops in battle including participation in Operation Harvest Moon. While there, he was interviewed near Phu Bai by a young Dan Rather.

His younger son, Greg, is a FOX News anchorman whose face is quite familiar to the public. In 2003, he provided extensive coverage on Operation Iraqi Freedom and was embedded with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, 2nd Brigade.

He was also the first television reporter to deliver live pictures to the world of U.S. forces infiltrating Baghdad on April 5. Two days later, Greg captured another exclusive during the storming of Saddam Hussein's presidential palace.

I asked his father if he was anxious watching his son reporting from the battlefield. The commissioner answered, "You know when you're a parent you never stop worrying about your kids. But Greg was a jet fighter pilot with the Marines for nine years. One time, he even had to eject from his plane. He's still in the marine reserves." The commissioner himself was also in the Marine Reserves and retired after 30 years of service.

I asked about his Irish heritage and if he still had family in Ireland. "Not to my knowledge," he answered, "although my brother had visited there and found a very distant relative."

His father's family comes from Roscommon and his mother's are from Cavan and Longford. He found it very interesting that one can now get details of one's Irish heritage because records are now computerized.

The National Archives holds the records of the modern Irish state, which document its historical evolution and the creation of its national identity.

Under its governing legislation - the National Archives Act, 1986 - the National Archives provides services both to the government and the public.

Commissioner Kelly has the distinction of being the first person to hold the post of police commissioner for a second, separate tenure.

His first term was from 1992 to 1994 during the David Dinkins administration. He also led the city through the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993, while the mayor was in Osaka, Japan.

Commissioner Kelly worked closely when then-Assistant FBI director James Fox, who headed the Federal investigation in which the first World Trade Center bombers were brought to justice.

I asked Commissioner Kelly about reports that he had been offered the position of FBI director and, if so, why he turned it down.

He answered that he had just become commissioner and it wasn't the time to leave the department. NYPD's deputy commissioner of public information, Paul Browne, confirmed that White House Counsel Bernard Nussbaum had called Commissioner Kelly to ask him to consider succeeding former FBI Director William Sessions, who was about to resign.

After his retirement in 1994, Commissioner Kelly helped establish the interim public security force in Haiti, earning a commendation from President Clinton for "exceptionally meritorious service."

Commissioner Kelly also has considerable experience in the federal government as well.

After his first tenure as police commissioner, he served as under secretary for enforcement at the United States Department of the Treasury.

While there he served on the executive committee and was elected vice president for the Americas at Interpol's 66th Assembly in New Delhi, India.

Commenting on his election, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin said, "Ray Kelly has been doing a tremendous job heading up Treasury's enforcement efforts against money laundering, drug smuggling and arms trafficking. His distinguished law enforcement credentials will bring to INTERPOL the experience and leadership skills essential to fulfill its mission to combat transnational crime."

Secretary Rubin wasn't the only one delighted with his election. "I am delighted that Ray Kelly has been elected Vice President for the Americas at Interpol's General Assembly Session," said Attorney General Janet Reno. "His experience in both the military and in law enforcement will give Interpol's leadership vital hands-on experience in combating crime that crosses international borders."

In 1998, he was named commissioner of the U.S. Customs Service where he managed the agency's 20,000 employees. In 2000, he was senior managing director for global securities for Bear Stearns.

Is there nothing that Ray Kelly can't do superbly well? Apparently not and he manages to get high approval ratings while doing them as well.

He's received numerous awards and accolades including the legion d'honneur presented at the French Consul in Manhattan by French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

He may also be our most cerebral police commissioner having earned a BBA from Manhattan College, a JD from St. John's University, an LLA from NYU, and a MPA from Harvard.

One of the first things I said to the commissioner was, "Why aren't you my mayor?" He laughed at that remark as if I were making a joke, but I was serious and said that I would have voted for him.

Commissioner Kelly was rumored as a possible candidate for the 2009 election but the registered Independent rejected that possibility, saying he loves his job as police commissioner and is focused on battling crime and the challenge of fighting terrorism.

When it comes to politics, he remains neutral and impartial, avoiding partisan commitments.

Since becoming the NYPD's commissioner for the second time in 2002, he has presided over the declining crimes rates in the largest city in the nation.

The respect that the people of the city hold for his professionalism and his integrity and the high regard in which he is held may be the result of his inherent humility and love of his Irish heritage.

At his installation as grand marshal, the commissioner spoke to an enthusiastic crowd that included five grand marshals and his beloved family.

Several speakers spoke warmly and excitedly at the prospect of Commissioner Kelly leading the parade.

They included the outgoing grand marshal, Mike Gibbons, former grand marshal Edward Cardinal Egan, and the Irish consul general, Niall Burgess.

Commissioner Kelly spoke with great emotion of the shared heritage of the Irish people, the struggles and triumphs of the immigrants, especially those of the first generations such as his own parents.

He thanked his wife, Veronica, sons James and Gregory, and his brother, Donald, and promised that he was counting on the NYPD, his aides, and all in the crowded room to make this year's parade a memorable one.

Other illustrious grand marshals have included Gov. Hugh Carey (1976), Rep. Peter King (1985), who attended Commissioner Kelly's installation, and actress Maureen O'Hara (1999). There may even be a future saint in the roster: John Cardinal O'Connor (1996).

It's no wonder that Commissioner Kelly feels honored to lead the 2010 St. Patrick's Day parade.