CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HONORED AT COLORFUL UNION STATION CEREMONY

By Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, Immediate Past President and Member, Board of Directors, National Christopher Columbus Association

Maurizio Greganti, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Italy

AMHS was well represented at the annual ceremony to honor Christopher Columbus held at Union Station in Washington, DC on October 8. The colorful and impressive ceremony took place in front of the statue of the great explorer erected in 1912. 5 The ceremony began with a musical prelude by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, followed by the posting of the colors by the U.S. Armed Forces Color Guard and the Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Color Corps.

The annual event was organized by the National Christopher Columbus Association (NCCA) in collaboration with the National Park Service and with the involvement of many fraternal, civic and cultural associations including the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF), the Lido Civic Club, the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Knights of Columbus (various councils). A proclamation by President Donald Trump and was read.

Comments were provided by Peter Davio, Vice President, NCCA; Jeff Jones, Supervisory Park Ranger; Minister Maurizio Greganti, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Italy; and Christina Fraile, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Spain. Another highlight of the event was the announcement of the winner of the National Youth Columbus Essay contest, which is jointly sponsored by NIAF and the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

This year’s winner was Francesca Testen, who wrote on the topic “Advantages and Disadvantages of Working Relationships Between Foreign Parties”. NCCA President J.P. McCusker presented the award certificate to the recipients Some of the speakers touched on the controversy surrounding the Columbus Day holiday and statues and decried the revisionist history being pushed nowadays.

The facts have been gathered by the NCAA in a website The Truth About Columbus and the audience was urged to educate themselves to help counter the false narratives. These speakers also noted that Columbus Day is the embodiment of Italian-American pride. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of 24 floral wreaths and the singing of “God Bless America.” Such a fitting tribute to the Great Discoverer!