One of the world’s tallest buildings to be lit up in Welsh colours
David Owens
There will be no mistaking the colours of the Welsh flag lit atop one famous skyscraper on St David’s Day this year.
The Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) in Chicago will be illuminated in red, white and green on March 1 thanks to the hard work of a Welsh expats group in the US.
The Chicago Tafia Welsh Society have pulled off a coup by having several iconic buildings in the city lit up for St David’s Day.
Top of the list is the is a 110-storey, 1,451-foot (442.3 m) tower which was the world’s tallest building when it was opened in 1974 and still ranks as one of the tallest in the world.
The Welsh society was formed in 1999 and every year since 2009 have arranged to get landmark buildings in the city lit up to celebrate March 1.
In addition the city’s famed Wrigley building will join the Willis Tower in the Welsh celebrations, with more likely to be announced.
Society chairman Dave Parry, who is originally from Aberystwyth and moved to Chicago in 1998, said: “We have had the tower of the Wrigley Building Illuminated white, red and green on St David’s Day since 2009. In 2017 I applied to have St David’s Day to be recognised by the Chicago BOMA Building Lighting Program. We received approval and every year since I’ve been contacting the management companies of various buildings in Chicago.”
In the past The Wrigley Building, Two Prudential Plaza, The InterContinental Hotel and the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier in the city have all agreed to light up for the night.
In addition, the society has also had music by Welsh artists played on Chicago area radio stations throughout the day on March 1st, while this year the group is planning a grand get together of more than 50 members for a St David’s Day party in the Windy City.
Read more stories about the Chicago Tafia Welsh Society:
Mari Lwyd proves a star attraction on a night out in an American city
The story of the Welsh expats and the most famous Wales flag in America
A Cofiwch Dryweryn mural has appeared in a remote part of America
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Great work gang and don’t miss the opportunity to educate folk by adding the phrase ‘Cymru ydy ddim mewn Lloegr’.
Where the Willis Tower in Chicago will be illuminated in red, white and green on March 1 , Welsh Labour have raised the white flag flag for Wales. FM Eluned Morgan & Welsh Labour are incapable of fighting for Wales interests against their authoritarian master UK/English Labour’s agenda of England first Wales last.
Can you arrange the lights in your building in the shape of the Welsh flag?
Sure, no problem! What does it look like?
Umm…
…I thought that the river in Chicago gets (or maybe used to get) dyed green on S. Patrick’s day ?
Dying the river red, white and green might be a tough one to pull off , mind ‘ew 😀
It’s just a shame the Welsh capital doesn’t yet have a building that can do this.
Chicago is not the Capital of The USA,yet we do have our own tallest building the Meridian Tower in Swansea.
Fabulous!! 👏👏👍