CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS HONORED AT COLORFUL UNION STATION CEREMONY

Once again this year, AMHS was well represented at the annual ceremony to honor Christopher Columbus held at Union Station in Washington, D.C. on October 9, 2017. The colorful and impressive ceremony took place on a windy and initially rainy fall day in front of the statue of the great explorer erected in 1912. As one of the speakers noted, perhaps this was fitting, since Columbus himself had to weather many storms—natural, political and financial.

Because of the weather, the U.S. Marine Band was unable to provide its usual tribute and the Knights of Columbus were unable to wear their colorful regalia. However, the many flags and what seemed to be a record number of floral wreaths added to the pageantry. 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) and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). Proclamations by President Donald Trump and D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser were read.

NCCA President James P. McCusker told the audience that for the first time, the Ambassadors of the two countries so important to Columbus, were present at the ceremony— Armando Varricchio of Italy and Pedro Morenes of Spain— and they both noted that Columbus was the link between the Old World and the New World, between Europe and the Americas. Another highlight of the event was the award given to the first-prize winner of the essay contest conducted by NIAF and the DAR, This year’s winner was a local student, Rachel Grace of Fairfax, Va., who read her interesting and wellresearched essay on how modern technology would have changed Columbus’ voyages.

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. And of course, the speakers also noted that Columbus Day is the embodiment of Italian-American pride. Their enormous contributions to the cultural, political, scientific and financial success of America were duly noted by NIAF representative Anita McBride. And Mr. McCusker also noted the contribution of the late Pino Cicala, an AMHS member who was among the founders of the NCCA. The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the many floral wreaths and the singing of “God Bless America.” Such a fitting tribute to the Great Discoverer!! And the day before, Holy Rosary Church had its own Columbus ceremony, following a bilingual Mass in his honor.

The speakers and the many parishioners gathered inside Casa Italiana for the ceremony and reception afterwards. Father Ezio Marchetto gave the invocation, and the speakers included Mr. McCusker and also Thomas Regnante, president of the Lido Civic Club, who spoke of his immigrant grandfather’s struggles and successes. (Due to the ongoing construction project, the Columbus statue formerly in the Church rectory front yard, donated by the Lido Civic Club in 1992, has been temporarily relocated)