Antonio M. Romanucci, President of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans , 
announces that the 59th Columbus Day Parade will kick-off on Monday, October 10th, 12:30 P.M.  The 
parade will march down on Columbus Drive from Balbo Drive to Monroe Street.

      The theme of the parade is “Unification of  Italy = Unification of Community, honoring Italian 
Consul General Alessandro Motto who is the Columbus Day Parade Chairman.   2011 marks the l50th 
anniversary of the Unification of Italy.  Honorary Parade Marshals are  Buddy Valastro, Star of TLC’S 
“Cake Boss: and Josette Mentesana Weber, Chairmwoman of Casa Italia’s Culture and Education 
Program.  This is an honor given to Mrs. Weber for her many years of dedicated volunteer services to all 
programs held at Casa Italia, the home of the Italian-American community located in Stone Park, Il.

      Columbus Day will begin with Mass at 9:00 A.M. at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii, 1224 West 
Lexington Street, Chicago.  The procession into church will be led by Paul D. Isherwood, Master. Knights 
of Columbus,  4th Degree-Illinoi s District One of Marquette Province,  After Mass, there will be an 
outdoor procession for the wreath-laying ceremony at the Columbus’ statue located in Arrigo Park, 
Laflin and Lexington Streets.  Leading the procession will be the Knights of Columbus, clergy,
Marist High School Band,  Consul General of Italy, dignitaries and guests.

      A short ceremony will be held in front of the statue.  This statue of  Columbus is the work of Sir 
Moses Ezekiel,which at one time was in the alcove of an office building that was on the southeast corner 
of Randolph and State Street, and later when the building was razed, the statue was placed in storage at 
a lumber yard and forgotten for many years.

      With funds raised by the Italian-American community, and through the efforts of
Oscar D’Angelo, a near west side community leader  and the late Honorable Victor Arrigo, this statue 
was re-located to Arrigo Park.  A fountain graces this area which is now under the care of University 
Village Association.

      The parade  led by the Great Lakes Navy Band, together with Mayor Rahm  Emanuel, Governor Pat 
Quinn,  Antonio M.Romanucci, president of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, Jo Ann 
Serpico, Executive Director,  many representatives of our city, state and government has over 160  
contingents, consisting of marchers, bands, drum and bugle corps and floats participating in this two-
hour civic  
celebration.  Among the many floats participating are ABC TV  with Mark Giangreco, and Janet Davis, 
announcing the parade participants,   Shrine of Our Lady of  Mt. Carmel, Phil Stefani Signature 
Restaurants,  Casa Italia, Children’s Italian language program, together with floats from  Turano 
Baking Company, Gonnella Baking Co., Tony’s Finer Foods . Supreme Lobster & More..

      Leading the front group of  participants, is the Coro Presanella, a  40 member choral group directly 
from Italy, dressed in their native costume performing for the first time in the United States.  They are 
from the Trentino Aldo Adige Region of Italy  

      Columbus Day Parade Queen, Bianca Scola (Bolingbrook) and her court, Victoria Martello (Oak 
Lawn), Marisa Panzerino (Oak Brook), Tessa Sassolino (Chicago) and
Elissa DeFeo Romanucci (River Forest) will preside over the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans 
float.

      The Columbus Day Parade celebrates Christopher Columbus and his monumental
Voyage which was first acknowledged in Illinois in 1963 when it  became a legal
holiday in the state.

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