Columbus Day Marches On

Christopher Columbus (l.) and Queen Isabella (r.), otherwise known as Mike and Theresa Meoni, marched ahead of members of the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens, sponsoring organization of the Columbus Day Parade, who carried the Federation's banner.

Under clear blue skies and temperatures that made the day feel more like late August than early October, the annual Columbus Day Parade sponsored by the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens (FIAOQ) kicked off at noon on Saturday, October 6 from the Kaufman Astoria Studios on 36th Street and wound its way through Astoria and Long Island City to the Columbus Triangle at 31st Street and Astoria Boulevard South.

Advertisements for the parade promised "music, bands, ethnic flok dancers, marchers, floats, performers and dignitaries" and onlookers who lined the streets to cheer the marchers on were not disappointed. Members of the city Department of Corrections made up the Color Guard. This year's Grand Marshal, City Councilmember Eric Gioia, led a line of marchers that included Parade Chairman Jerry Iannece, Esq., former chairman of Community Board 11, Bayside. Federation President Joseph Di Pietro also marched at the head of the parade. They were joined by Assemblymember Michael Gianaris and Rino Gradassi, representing the Italian Consulate, former City Council Speaker Peter Vallone Sr., his son, City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. and state Senator George Onorato. Two traditional parade participants, Christopher Columbus (Mike Meoni) and his sponsor and financial backer, Queen Isabella of Spain (Theresa Meoni), also marched. Angelo Bonsangue drove the black 1962 Buick convertible that has been seen at the parade for many years and members of the Fiat 500 Fan Club of New York joined in. The Gruppo Folklorico Amastra from Amastra, Italy and their counterparts, the Gruppo Folklorico Agrigento from Agrigento, Italy, performed traditional dances and music.

City Councilmember Eric Gioia served as Grand Marshal for the 2007 Columbus Day Parade sponsored by the Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens. Assemblymember Michael Gianaris, Parade Chairman Jerry Iannece, Esq., former chairman of Community Board 11, Bayside. Federation President Joseph Di Pietro also marched at the head of the parade.

The parade route led north on 36th Street from the Studios to 35th Avenue, east on 35th Avenue to Steinway Street, north on Steinway Street to 30th Avenue, west on 30th Avenue to 33rd Street, north on 33rd Street to Astoria Boulevard, and west on Astoria Boulevard to the Columbus Triangle. At the Columbus Triangle, the dignitaries present placed a wreath to honor Columbus, who made landfall in the New World in October 1492.

 

 

Members of the Gruppo Folklorico Agrigento performed a folk dance at the annual Columbus Day Parade in Astoria on October 6.

 

 

 

 

 

Rino Gradassi of the Italian Consulate addressed parade participants and spectators from the reviewing stand at Columbus Triangle, 31st Street and Astoria Boulevard South. Senator George Onorato , Jerry Iannece and Joseph DiPietro listen attentively.

 

 

 

 

 

Parade participants, Federation of Italian American Organizations of Queens members and officers, politicians and participating folklore groups gathered at the statue of Christopher Columbus at 31st Street and Astoria Boulevard South.