79th Annual Columbus Day Parade celebrated in NYC as largest celebration of Italian American heritage
NEW YORK -- The 79th Annual Columbus Day Parade, billed as the world's largest celebration of Italian American heritage, was celebrated Monday in Manhattan.
Surrounded by a sea of Italian flags, Maseratis, Vespas, even Sicilian carts paraded down Fifth Avenue in Midtown, showcasing the strength of Italian innovation and design.
"They used to be our old traditional transportation," Vincenzo Arcobelli of Italians Living Aboard said. "It's a legacy of culture, it's a legacy we want to keep alive with the Columbus Day Parade."
Beth Paretta, CEO of Paretta Autosport, was among the many Italian Americans continuing to make history.
"Italian Americans have done so much to build New York, and I think we all definitely benefit from Italian culture whether we are conscious of it or not, between art, food, music, everything else," Paretta said.
More than 35,000 people marched in Monday's parade. A million more spectators waved and cheered along the sidelines.
"There's a bunch of people singing and waving flags and being really happy and it's very fun," Anna DeVito said.
The DeVitos are among the many families one generation removed from their motherland, trying to ensure cultural traditions are not forgotten.
"I think it's so important to know where you came from to help know where you are going," Elisa DeVito said.
"There's a very strong thread that goes through the Italian community and that's one of family support, hard work and celebrating our heritage," Christopher Loiacono of the Columbus Citizens Foundation said.
"What people don't realize is that Italians have had an influence in the development and growth of the United States since colonial times. We helped write the Declaration of Independence, in every field that you can think of," said Lenny Mancuso, from Long Island.
Celebrating their ancestors' ability to come to a new land and succeed, empowering the next generation to do the same, just like the famed Italian explorer himself.
This year's parade featured 20 marching bands, 18 floats and dozens of performance groups.
On Sunday, a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the Christopher Columbus statue in Columbus Circle.
The annual event commemorated the first Italian American immigrants who came to America and paid tribute to civil servants and first responders who help keep New York City safe.
