Columbus

Recipient of "Columbus day corp." Mother Cabrini Award "

Berra Park Coordinator

Cav. Antonino Lombardo

COLUMBUS DAY PARADE AND FESTA HELD
By Marianne Peri Sack
Bright orange, gold, crimson and purplish leaves had already started to fall in the streets of the Hill on October 12, the day of the St. Louis Columbus Day Parade and festival. Small children’s hands and those of adults reached through the crisp leaves to retrieve candy that was being thrown along the parade route that began at Southwest Bank, traveled around the Italian neighborhood of the Hill and ended at Berra Park.
Parade participants poured on to the park grounds where Christopher Columbus himself showed up to congratulate this year’s honorees and talk about our wonderful country. Honorees Grand Marshall Anthony Bommarito, Sr., Spirit of Columbus Joe Vaccaro, Mother Cabrini Award winner Marianne Peri Sack, Miss Italian St. Louis Emma Palleja, Maid of Honor Ellen Hunt and Maid of Honor Nicole Cummins all gave brief speeches regarding what this holiday and event meant to them.
When the speeches were over, the Italians did what they do best – enjoy delicious food, beautiful music and the camaraderie of good friends. In between bites of salsicccia, spiedini, cannoli and the other favorite foods sold by the Italian organizations, they chatted, hugged and kissed friends and family. This year a huge tent in the middle of the booths gave people a better opportunity to gather in comfort. Many even found time to dance to the music of the Italian Community Band of St. Louis and the music of Joe Tucci.

Grand Marshal Tony Bommarito