As Italian Americans Celebrate Christopher Columbus Day, President Obama Also Recalls The "Tragic Hardships" That Indigenous People Endured As A Result of European Exploration October 7, 2011 ~ "These explorers, and countless others that followed them, encountered indigenous peoples that had lived in the Western hemisphere for tens of thousands of years. On this day, we also remember the tragic hardships these communities endured . . . Christopher Columbus was the first in a proud tradition of Italians to cross the Atlantic to our shores. Today, we recognize their indelible influence on our country and celebrate the remarkable ways Italian-Americans have shaped the American experience." Read proclamation |CiaoAmerica.net|