Wreath Ceremony at Columbus Circle, New York City
Oct.10, New York, NY
As tradition would have it the Columbus Citizens Foundation attracted wide interest from a bevy of New Yorkers who were up before noon yesterday at Columbus Circle, Broadway at 59th Street in New York City.
This year’s Grand Marshall to the annual Columbus Day Parade, Ms.Maria Bartiromo, popularly known as the Anchor of CNBC’s “Closing Bell with Maria Bartiromo” and Managing Editor of the nationally syndicated “The Wall Street Journal Report” was given the honor to pay tribute to the millions of Italian-Americans who have settled in the U.S. over the centuries. The setting was the Columbus Monument at Columbus Circle. A floral arrangement containing the tri-colors of the Italian national flag was offered by Ms. Bartiromo. She was ably assisted by the foundation’s president, Mr. Frank G. Fusaro, Mr. Angelo Vivolo, Co-Chairman of the Columbus Day weekend
celebration in New York City, and Mr. Lou Tallarini, the foundation’s chairman.
Mr.Jason DeSena Trennert, Managing Partner, Strategas, and Mr. Frank Bisignano, Chief Administrative Officer, JPMorgan Chase & Company, delivered
opening remarks saluting the achievements of Italian-Americans. Counsel General of Italy in New York, Mr. Francesco Maria Talo, offered high praise for their achievements and acknowledged the work of the foundation whose mission has been to promote the positive identity of Italian-Americans and their financial contributions to support scholarship opportunities for today’s award winning students of Italian-American heritage. In 2009 the foundation contributed over two million in grants and aids to this group.
Attending the day’s event were members of the National Council of Columbia Associations. These included Mr.Joseph Gaugliardo who introduced the lead speakers, along with Mr. Ron Cohen, and Mr.John Passalacqua. Members of the NYC Fire Department, Sanitation Department and Police Department were represented.
A bevy of fire officers from Brecia, Italy
also participated. The largest contingent, however, was a smartly pressed group from Nassau County, New York, representing the Sheriff’s Department in the Eastern region.
Today’s program was a prelude to Monday’s calender of events which include a solem high mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the annual Columbus Day Parade on Fifth Avenue which will be broadcast by WNBC in New York.
