The streets of Midtown filled with red, white and green Monday for the 70th Annual Columbus Day Parade. NY1′s Roger Clark filed the following report.
Eight-year-old Nadia decided to up the ante for her fourth Columbus Day Parade, painting her hair the colors of the Italian flag.
“We’re real Italians. So I decided to do that,” she said.
And why not? After all, the Columbus Day Parade is the world’s largest celebration of Italian-American heritage and culture.
It’s organized by the Columbus Citizens Foundation. The money raised goes towards its scholarship fund.
“This is really the mission of the foundation. The Columbus Foundation is all about giving back, and helping young Italian-American children achieve and be able to stand on our shoulders as we were able to stand on the shoulders of the people who came before us,” said Columbus Citizens Foundation President Angelo Vivolo.
Thousands lined Fifth Avenue to hear the music and soak up everything the parade had to offer, from floats and motorcycles to fire trucks—and of course, those great Italian sports cars.
“This is the best parade in New York. It’s not too crowded and the floats are wonderful. This is the best parade to come too,” one attendee said.
“I am not Italian, but I come here to say thank you for the best food in the world. Viva Italia, la dolce vita and grazie,” another attendee said.
Among the honorees this year was former Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who received a public service lifetime achievement award.
First Data Corporation Chairman and CEO and Brooklyn native Frank Bisignano was Grand Marshal.
“This is really about family. It’s a celebration of America, a celebration of Italian-Americans, a celebration of diversity in America,” said Bisignano.
You never really know what you are going to find at the Columbus Day Parade, like the Wagner College cheerleaders.
Some of the people taking part in the festivities were some visitors who know a thing or two about Italian culture.
“Italy is perfect for everything. For the food, for the fashion, for the city, for the culture. We are magnificent for us, so we are proud to be Italian,” one said.
And it’s hard to argue with someone who came all the way from Rome to see the parade.
http://ift.tt/1rrcJpp
via Great Local News: New York http://ift.tt/1iZiLP1
No comments:
Post a Comment