2009 Columbusday

COLUMBUS DAY PARADE AND FESTIVAL
By Marianne Peri Sack

It has been 142 years since the first Columbus Day Parade was celebrated in St. Louis. Prior to that, celebrations were sporadic until the Fratellanza Society was founded in 1866. The parade was one of its priorities in those early days and they began it in 1867. In later years, an ensuing festival became part of the festivities.
This year, the more than 100-unit-parade included Italian motorcycles, English Sheep dogs with decorations of red, white and green, fire engines, Shriners’ in mini cars, an antique police car, antique cars, etc. Various families such as Biondo clan, the Riva family hailing from Malvaglio, Italy in 1910 and the Griffero Gang paraded together.
After the parade converged in Berra Park, the Italian band opened the ceremonies with the playing of the American and Italian National anthems. The honorees Grand Marshalls, Ray, Joe and Mario Boccardi, Spirit of Columbus Tom Stremlau, Miss Italian St. Louis Kate Pietroburgo, Maids of Honor Natalie Berra and Elizabeth Di Maggio all gave brief speeches on what this day meant to them and their Italian heritage. Congressman Russ Carnahan spoke to the crowd about Columbus Day and the Hill area. Special guests were introduced by Master of Ceremonies Ollie Raymand.
The band played music and singer Nate Basta entertained as everyone rushed to the booths to get some of that wonderful food that made the Italian cuisine so famous. Long lines coiled around the grounds waiting for salsiccia, meatball sandwiches, Sicilian steak, Italian-style chicken, espresso coffee, gelato, cannoli and cookies.
The entertainment began around three o’clock with the meatball eating contest. Contestants paid $25.00 for the opportunity to attempt to eat 25 meatballs in five minutes. The contestants’ ages ranged from 12 to middle-age adults. Judges hovered over the contestants as they gorged themselves and the audience cheered on their favorites. The winner was Dave Bullard, a 6 foot, 4 inch man, who could have easily stood up to Hulk Hogan. Of course, size does not mean much in a contest of this sort. It is all in the appetite. One small female came in third place with a count of 21 meatballs devoured. Not only was the contest a hit but the proceeds went to St. Louis area Food Banks thanks to the sponsorship of the Boccardi family.
First prize was a flat screen TV, second prize was a $150.00 gift certificate from Joe Boccardi’s Restaurant and two tickets to a Blues game and third prize was $150.00 in steaks and two tickets to a Blues game. For those interested in competing next year, you have a whole year to practice. Remember there are no losers in this game. Even if you don’t win one of the big prizes, the meatballs are delicious.
Those in attendance spent the rest of the beautiful fall day, eating, visiting with friends and enjoying the music of Joe Tucci.

LAYING OF WREATH TRADITION AT TOWER GROVE PARK
By Marianne Peri Sack

Henry Shaw commissioned the rather unusual statue of Christopher Columbus as a gift for the City of St. Louis. The statue is the only one of the navigator that sports a beard and was sculptured in that manner at the insistence of Shaw himself against the wishes of the artist. The statue was unveiled in 1886 with much fanfare and the Italians in St. Louis began to place a wreath at the base of the statue that year and every year afterwards on October 12. Later the festivities were centered around the Italian Hill area but the staff of Tower Grove Park continued the tradition on their own. Some years ago a group of members of the Italian community again began coming to the statue on October 12 of each year to assist in laying the wreath at the towering bronze figure of Columbus.
This year the 2009 honorees, Grand Marshall Ray Boccardi, Joe Boccardi, Mario Boccardi and Spirit of Columbus Award winner Tom Stremlau carried the wreath to its place at the base of the statue. John Karel, Director of Tower Grove Park, spoke about the tradition and afterwards invited all attendees to share some refreshments.

SPONSORS OF COLUMBUS DAY
PLEASE PATRONIZE THEM

MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR
SOUTHWEST BANK

RENAISSANCE FINANCIAL
ALDERMAN JOE VOLLMER
BARTARELLI CUTLERY INC.
JOE BOCCARDI RISTORANTE
CALCATERRA FUNERAL HOME
DIGREGORIO’S MARKET
DOMINIC’S
ELECTRIC WORKERS LOCAL NO. 1
FRAN LO PORTO FAUPEL - GUNDAKER
FEDERATION OF ITALIAN AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS
GUIDO’S PIZZERIA & TAPAS
HANNEKE HARDWARE
ITALIAN CLUB OF ST. LOUIS
IMO’S PIZZA
LA FESTA DI SANTA FARA OF ST. LOUIS
MAMA CAMPISI RESTAURANT
MISERICORDIA SOCIETY
QUALITY TRANSMISSION SERVICE
RIGAZZI’S INC.
RUSSO CATERING CO.
SICILIAN CULTURAL ASSOCIATION

LOUIS STYLE PIZZA COAST TO COAST INC.

SERRA’S PIZZERIA

LOUIS CHAPTER OF UNICO NATIONAL

THE PASTA HOUSE CO.
CAITO’S PIZZERIA
CUNETTO HOUSE OF PASTA
VOLPI ITALIAN FOODS INC.

LOUIS METRO CHAPTER OF UNICO NATIONAL

MISSOURI BAKERY
ROSCIGLIONE BAKERY