HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY: A 2022 LETTER FROM THE GAZETTE WORTH A RE-POST

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HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY: A LETTER FROM THE 2022 GAZETTE

Dear Croton and local residents,
I want to wish everyone a Happy Columbus Day! I’m proud of being 100% Italian. This is an important federal holiday for Italian Americans to celebrate the contributions we have brought to America, from the era of Columbus’ travels on up to modern times.

 
The Croton Dam, Holy Name of Mary Church, The Kensico Dam in Valhalla and many other stone structures in Croton were built by Italian immigrants. Most of the Italians came here with no English-speaking experience, and being Catholic they were looked down upon.

 
Italian Americans faced some very serious racism and discrimination. Many people don’t know that Italians were put in internment camps in America during WWII, and that the largest group-lynching in American history involved 11 Italian Americans in Louisiana in 1891. Attacks on Italian Americans such as these helped situate Columbus Day as a federal holiday years later in 1934, thanks to president Franklin D. Roosevelt. The KKK rallied against the establishment of Columbus Day, as well as the placement of Columbus statues in prominent Italian American communities, but their hateful and malicious efforts were unsuccessful.

 
On Columbus Day 2010, President Barack Obama thanked Italian Americans through a presidential proclamation officially designating October to be Italian American Heritage and Culture Month. I invite you to enjoy the biggest Columbus Day parade in-person in New York City on the holiday, or at least watch it on TV with some good Italian cookies.

Columbus was a brave, methodical and determined navigator who, like the many Italians who came to America (so named for Italian cartographer Amerigo Vespucci who mapped the North American land-masses) on boats centuries later, made huge contributions to our country’s rich history and culture.

Throughout the month of October, and throughout the year, consider the beautiful Italian art, cinema, architecture, scientific advances, books, and food that have become part of the American tapestry.

I invite you to read up on Italian Americans, visit the Croton Historical Society and your local library for more interesting Italian American history, art and culture. Read the classic tales of Strega Nona and Big Anthony by the beloved author and illustrator Tomie dePaola to your children, and take in some delicious meals at our fantastic local Italian restaurants.

Happy Columbus Day and a Happy Italian American Heritage and Culture Month!

Ciao,
Jessica Dieckman