Lupinacci
Co-Grand Marshal for 20th Annual Long Island Columbus Day Parade w/NYS OSDIA
President Robert M. Ferrito, News 12 Anchor Antoinette Biordi, Dr. Vito
DeSimone, Ph.D.
Huntington – Huntington Supervisor
Chad A. Lupinacci, Town Councilmembers Eugene Cook, Joan Cergol, and Ed Smyth,
Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia, Tax Receiver Jillian Guthman, State Assemblyman Steve
Stern, County Comptroller John Kennedy, and County Legislator William Spencer
joined Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America New York Grand Lodge State
President Robert Ferrito, State 1st Vice President Anthony Naccarato, State
Deputy Keith Wilson, past National President Joseph DiTrapani, National
Treasurer Thomas Lupo, members from across Long Island, and a Christopher
Columbus impersonator for a wreath laying and Italian flag-raising ceremony at
the Christopher Columbus Statue in Huntington Village on Thursday, October 4 to
kick off Italian-American Heritage Month festivities, including the 20th
Annual Long Island Columbus Day Parade taking place Sunday, October 7 in
Huntington Village.
OSDIA New York State Deputy Keith
Wilson, also Parade Chairman, served as master of ceremonies, opening the event
with an invocation from Father Noel Sixon from Saint Patrick’s Church in
Huntington, who blessed the statue, wreath and all in attendance.
"This
statue has served as a gateway to Huntington Village for over 40 years, it was
commissioned by Sam Albicocco, a Huntington resident who was the uncle of the
Town’s Director of General Services, Andre Sorrentino, who is responsible for
the beautification of the surrounding landscaping," said Supervisor Chad
A. Lupinacci. "Albicocco purchased the land for the statue at his own cost.
The statue was financed with contributions from hundreds of Long Islanders,
also proud of their Italian-American heritage, and in 1994 Trustees of the Sam
Albicocco-Christopher Columbus Foundation transferred this land and the statue
that sits upon it to the Town of Huntington."
Lupinacci
assured those in attendance that the statue was “here to stay in Huntington,
standing taller, and larger, with broader shoulders,” and encouraged residents
to wear their “green, white and red” on Sunday, for the 20th Annual
Long Island Columbus Day Parade, of which he will serve as a Co-Grand Marshal,
along with NYS OSDIA President Robert M. Ferrito, News 12 Anchor Antoinette
Biordi, and Italian media personality Dr. Vito DeSimone, Ph.D.
Suffolk County Comptroller John
Kennedy, member of the OSDIA Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro Lodge #2319 along with his
wife, Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy stated: “It’s an honor to be
here, particularly as a past Grand Marshal for this great parade,” as he noted
the importance of honoring the heritage and importance of Columbus in Suffolk
County and the nation at large. The tradition of the Long Island Columbus
Day Parade started in his hometown, East Northport, in 1969. At the time, it
was the first Columbus Day Parade in Suffolk County in 31 years.
President Domenica Diana Grauer of
the OSDIA Arturo Toscanini Lodge #2107 and Mary Naccarato of the OSDIA Giuseppe
Verdi Lodge #2163 then presented a bouquet of flowers to NYS OSDIA First Lady
Lina Ferrito on behalf of the Parade Committee.
Suffolk County Legislator William
Spencer offered quick words of congratulations, well-received by the crowd, as
the rain came down at the outdoor ceremony: “Thank you, it’s a privilege to be
here, congratulations and God bless you all.”
Representing the National
Foundation, past OSDIA National President Joseph DiTrapani of the Per Sempre
Lodge #2344 said, “Let’s enjoy this evening, it’s a great day and a great week
for our Sons of Italy and our Italian heritage,” as he offered best wishes from
all members across the country.
On behalf of OSDIA National
President Vera Girolami, National Treasurer Thomas Lupo offered well wishes: “I
bring you greetings from National President Girolami and she wishes you the
best in celebrating this very important weekend to all Italian-Americans.”
OSDIA State President Robert Ferrito
thanked all in attendance for joining in the ceremonial “kicking off” of
Columbus Day Weekend, stating: “We must recognize that Columbus was a great
navigator, he brought Christianity to the New World, and he should be
recognized for his accomplishments, discovering a new route to America,
bringing many individuals behind him – scientists, mathematicians; artists and
poets – who made this country the great country it is today,” as he went on to
congratulate each of the elected officials in attendance for standing strong in
celebrating Columbus' accomplishments.
State Deputy Wilson thanked all in
attendance for taking part in the celebration and called for the Italian flag
to be raised, which will remain flying for all of Italian-American Heritage
Month, and the wreath to be placed at the base of the Columbus statue.
The Annual New York Grand Lodge,
Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, Long Island Columbus Day Parade
will step off in Huntington on Sunday October 7, 2018. Many members of the NYS
OSDIA from across Long Island will join in the festivities marking the
organization’s 113th anniversary.
The event provides the ideal
backdrop to celebrate Italian heritage, culture and the vast contributions made
in the country by people of Italian ancestry. Green, red and white will be the
colors of the day as spectators are sure to revel in Italian-American pride,
while taking in the many authentic Italian costumes and listening to the
talented high school marching bands. The theme for this year’s parade is
Columbus … The Legacy Continues … 2018!
Members of over 24 lodges in Nassau
and Suffolk will be holding their banners and marching with pride during the
parade, which coincides with the annual Long Island Fall festival at Heckscher
State park. The Town of Huntington and the Huntington Township Chamber of
Commerce host the Parade.
Kicking off at 12 noon, the 1.5-mile
parade route will be take place on Main Street in Huntington Village, starting
at the intersection of Park Avenue and West Main Street and continuing to West
Neck Road and West Main Street.
Several high school marching bands
will entertain the crowd with their musical performances including East Meadow
High School, W.T. Trespar Clarke High School, Walt Whitman High School, Islip
High School, Deer Park High School and others.
For further information about the
parade please contact: Keith Wilson, Parade Chairman at 516-633-1435 ~ Email: kwilson@optonline.net. For membership
information for the Order Sons of Italy in America, New York Grand Lodge,
please call 800-322-OSIA or email nysosia@aol.com.
VIDEO: http://huntingtonny.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=4&clip_id=1633
In the photo(s): (1) Christopher
Columbus Statue, Wreath and Italian Flag in Huntington Village. (2) (l-r)
Steven Rossetti; Assemblyman Steve Stern; OSDIA State Deputy and Parade Chair
Keith Wilson; Councilwoman Joan Cergol; Father Noel Sixon, Saint Patrick’s
Church; past OSDIA National President Joseph DiTrapani; Tax Receiver
Jillian Guthman; Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy; Supervisor Chad A.
Lupinacci; Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia; Suffolk County Legislator William Spencer;
OSDIA State 1st Vice President Anthony Naccarato; Councilman Eugene Cook; OSDIA
State President Robert Ferrito; Robert Fonti; OSDIA National Treasurer Thomas
Lupo; Councilman Ed Smyth; Christopher Columbus impersonator.
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