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Annual Columbus Day Parade Celebrates Italian Heritage and Encourages...

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto and Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone have been named as Grand Marshals of the annual Columbus Day Parade, sponsored by Order Sons of Italy in America. The Parade is scheduled for Sunday, October 8 at 12:30 p.m. in Huntington. And there will be no raining on this year's8217;s parade. In case of rain, the Parade will take place on Sunday, October 15th.



The theme for this year's8217;s parade is 's8220;Support Our Veterans.'s8221;More than 25 Lodges of the Order Sons of Italy in America from Nassau and Suffolk will participate in the 2006 parade. This year, the Lodges celebrate the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Order by Dr. Vincent Sellaro in Little Italy in 1905. The Order has nearly 750 Lodges across the U.S.



's8220;Again this year we are excited to be bringing the Columbus Day Parade to Huntington,'s8221; said Huntington Town Supervisor Frank Petrone. 's8220;As an Italian-American myself, I think this is a great way to celebrate our heritage and to include a message of support for all our veterans is very special. In fact, I invite all residents and the entire community to become honorary Italians for the day and join us for the fun, festivities and celebration,'s8221; he continued.



The Parade route will follow Main Street (Route 25A) in Huntington, beginning at the YMCA and Park Avenue and proceeding west to West Neck Road and Gerard Street.The 2006 Columbus Day Parade Queens 's8211; Jennifer Rheel from Suffolk and Mary Aliana-Jeffrey from Nassau 's8211; will ride in an antique car.



Among the Parade's8217;s participating organizations are: high school bands from East Meadow, W. Tresper Clark, Plainedge and Kings Park; Sangenito Italian Band; Huntington Service organizations, including the Fire Departments, Huntington Harbors Girl Scouts, Centurion Cruisers Car Club and friends; Gold Coast Cruisers, Huntington Detachment Marine League Corps. Color Guard; Jewish War Veterans, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Town of Huntington Veterans Advisory Board, other Veteran groups and the Entenmann's8217;s Bakery Van.In recognition of our Veterans the Huntington and Huntington Manor Fire Departments will be hanging a 20's8217;x 40's8217; flag across Main Street between two ladder trucks.



In addition, Parade organizers have invited elected officials from Nassau and Suffolk, the President and officers of the New York State Grand Lodge, and members of other prominent Italian American organizations to participate. The Columbus Day Parade festivities will kick-off with a ceremonial wreath laying at the Columbus Statue on Main Street in Huntington on Thursday, October 5th at 5pm.



The Parade will add a zesty Italian-American pride and presence to downtown Huntington during its annual Fall Festival celebration weekend, which runs from Friday evening, October 6, to Monday, October 9 at Heckscher Park. As part of the Fall Festival there will be a Meatball Eating Contest on Sunday, October 8th at 5 P.M.



The Order Sons of Italy in America works at the community, state and national levels to promote the heritage and culture of an estimated 26 million Italian Americans, the nation's8217;s fifth largest ethnic group. It is the oldest and largest organization of Italian American men and women in the United States and Canada. The Order Sons of Italy in America raises funds to provide scholarships, donate to various charities and to promote a positive image of Italian Americans by fighting bias and discrimination.



For more information about the parade, contact, Angelo Grande 's8211; Chair, Loggia Glen Cove # 1016, 516-676-7436

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