St. Patrick’s Day A Big Deal In Dublin … Virginia, that is

Chief Dennis Lambert and Sherri Bralley of the Dublin Police Department display their green Friday for St. Patrick’s Day, which is coming up this Sunday (March 17).  The police department celebrates the day each year, considering the town’s name is the same as Ireland’s largest city and its capitol. Lambert, who has traveled to the “big” Dublin in Ireland, and like many in this area is of Irish descent.  Each year he treats Dublin Town employees to lunch featuring Irish beef stew and Irish soda bread that he prepares himself. Other employees chip in items for the meal, including green punch made by Bralley. Lambert will represent Dublin P.D. on Saturday during Roanoke’s Freedom First St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Shamrock Festival. Given the department’s name, it garners a lot of attention during the event. Lambert said there are 21 “Dublin” communities spread all across the U.S. He is in the process of collecting police department patches from each of the other “Dublins” he finds – those at least who have a police department.’