PITTSTON - Looking out across the ballroom, Col. Frank Noonan didn't see an audience.
He saw friends.
The guest speaker at the 99th annual Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick dinner said it was nice to get reacquainted with people he hasn't been able to see very often while working in Harrisburg.
"I feel like I'm just talking to a bunch of friends," he said.
The state police commissioner shared stories of his time serving in Vietnam, his early days with the FBI and his work with the state police.
Mentioning J. Edgar Hoover, the war and Oliver "Ollie" North, toastmaster Jarrett Ferentino joked that he sounded like the movie, "Forrest Gump." Col. Noonan's ultimate message, though, had a more serious tone.
"The whole theme of my talk is that our grandparents and parents came to this country for a chance," he said. "We should be grateful for what we have."
Attending the dinner is a chance Chicago resident Leo Jordan, who grew up in West Pittston, never misses.
"I've come back every year for the last 35 or 40 years just for this event," he said. "I have a lot of family back here and a lot of friends. This gives me a chance to spend time with them."
The sentiment was shared by outgoing Friendly Sons President James Clancy, who noted that he was attending with his son, brother and father.
He presented the Professor Swingle Award to former major league baseball player Andy Ashby and the Man of the Year award to the "John Wooden of Pittston," Mark Casper.
Both men shrugged off the accolades, pointing out that many others in the community made similar contributions.
"I'm kind of a fly-under-the-radar, behind-the-scenes kind of guy," said Mr. Casper. "There are 50 to 100 guys who could easily get this award before me."
Mr. Ashby added that other work done by community volunteers "does not go unnoticed."
Mr. Casper has attended the event for about 12 years, but after Sunday's dinner, he said one thing would change.
"I'm not a member of the Friendly Sons, but I've been told I will be after tonight," he said with a smile.
Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter