UTICA — The Irish flag was raised on Wednesday at Utica City Hall, which begins a sequence of events happening across the city that celebrate the Irish heritage.

The sound of bagpipes echoed throughout city hall on Wednesday as bagpiper Dr. Daniel Murphy played the traditional Irish instrument while he walked into the Common Council chambers, where the Irish flag was laid out. Volunteers with the city’s annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade and residents with Irish heritage all waited with anticipation to see the flag proudly wave over the city.

Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri addressed the volunteers and residents sitting in the chamber and emphasized the importance of the Irish community and their contributions to the city.

"We get to March and there’s a number of flag raising events [which is] really what the city is all about," Palmieri said. We’re a very diverse city, we’re a warm and giving city. … How did we come to be the warm and giving city that we are? And my hat goes off to the Irish, the hard work, family values … and it has made our city a great city, and we became a melting pot."

Following the mayor’s remarks, he declared March to be Irish Heritage Month in the city of Utica.

Colleen Kain Martin, who serves as this year’s grand marshal for the parade, spoke on the honor bestowed upon her for being able to raise the Irish flag above the city.

"I’ve been to many flag raisings over the years, never imagining that I would be doing it one day," Kain Martin said.

"This flag symbolizes so much for all of us," she added. "My grandparents … immigrated from Ireland and they helped to contribute to make this city what it is and to make our Irish community what it is. It’s a great community at large and it’s a great Irish community."

Bagpipes in hand, Murphy led Palmieri, Kain Martin and the local Irish community to the flagpole outside city hall, as he played the bagpipes once more. Both the mayor and grand marshall have the honor of securing the Irish flag to the flagpole and raising it up, where it is currently waving over the city.

Tomorrow, the tradition of painting the green line will happen at noon to signify Saturday’s parade route. A mass at St. Joseph St. Patrick Church, 702 Columbia St., will follow later at 7 p.m.

The Utica Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will take place Saturday at 10 a.m., starting at Oneida Square and ending on Columbia Street.