A.O.H. Purpose
- To promote friendship, unity and Christian charity.
- To foster and sustain loyalty to country and community.
- To aid and advance by all legitimate means the aspirations and endeavors of the Irish people for complete and absolute independence, promoting peace (with justice) and unity for all Ireland.
- To foster the ideals and perpetuate the history and traditions of the Irish people.
- To promote Irish Culture.
- To encourage civic participation.
- To encourage an equitable U.S. immigration law for Ireland, and to cooperate with all groups for a fair American Immigration Policy.
- To accept and support, without prejudice, the concept of free expression of religious practice for the people of the world.
Division Leaders
Chaplain
Open
Vice President
Mike Powers
Financial Secretary
Frank Ryder
Chairman of the Standing Committee
Jimi Kilpatrick (Seamus)
Catholic Action
John Donleavy
President
Dan Donahue
Recording Secretary
John Gianelli
Treasurer
Mike Kane
Sentinel
John McGoldrick
Historian
Michael Edmiston
Marshall
Cal Williams
Gettysburg Monuments
Thanks to the efforts of Past President Dan Lyons, the Michael Collins Division is proud to have “adopted” two monuments at the Gettysburg National Military Park. We travel to Gettysburg twice a year to maintain the sites of these monuments.
19th Massachusetts Infantry
This regiment played a key part in repelling Pickett’s Charge on July 3rd 1863. Initially a reserve group on this historic day, the 19th was rushed into duty when the Confederate army began to break through the line of the 69th Pennsylvania Volunteers (The Irish Brigade from Philadelphia. The 19th had FIVE Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients on this July day. One of those honored was John Robinson who was born in Ireland.
42nd New York Infantry (Tammany Regiment)
This regiment fought alongside the 19th Massachusetts infantry on July 3rd 1863. They also rushed to the aid of the valiant volunteers from Philadelphia in repulsing Pickett’s Charge. The point of contact on the Confederate side was General Armistead, who led his troops with his hat on his sword so that his men would not lose sight of the target. During the Civil War, one member of this regiment won the Congressional Medal of Honor, his name was Michael Madden and he won the Medal on September 3rd 1861 at Mason’s Island, Maryland. Michael was born in Ireland.