Bob Kelley hopes St. Patrick’s Day will be associated with fallen heroes after this year.

The owner of the Tally Ho- with his annual St. Patrick’s Day fundraiser-will raise money to help bring the traveling Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial to Dallas County this year.

“The Wall means something for everyone,” he said. “That’s something that will be for all of the community.”

Kelley-a Vietnam veteran -said the Wall is important to him as well.

“To me it’s more personal than (to) somebody that doesn’t have a friend or family member on it,” he said.

The cause may be more personal this year, Kelley said, but that will be one of the few differences.

Kelley said the green beer will be flowing the same as always, and that the money raised for the wall will come from patrons eating in the restaurant.

“We hope everybody eats an awful lot,” Kelley said.

For years, Kelley’s family has been celebrating the Saint’s day in style. His late father set the tone for the holiday, he dyed his mustache green every year.

His daughters will be carrying on the family tradition.

They will be working at the restaurant dressed as leprechauns.

Kelley’s wife is also getting into the act, making a St. Patrick’s Day outfit.

(It has) a lot of green with shamrocks on it,” Kelley said.

Kelley and the Tally Ho have honored the Irish holiday for years with a charity night.

In fact, the charity night is so well received,

Tally Ho was honored for it by the National Restaurant Association.

There’s nothing like the event anywhere in Alabama, Kelley said.

Last year, Kelley said his business raised $1,200 for Habitat for Humanity.

But he spreads the joy around, helping different charities every year.

“I’ve done so many charities,” he said.

This year, he said he expected to raise at least as much money as last year.

“In the past we’ve got a lot of support,” he said.

Kelley said the event was already off to a good start.

“I just received a reservation for 17,” Kelley said.

With a little of the luck of the Irish, the restaurant will be full of shamrocks and good cheer Thursday night.