PARSIPPANY — Mayor Pulkit Desai presented the Sons of Italy with a proclamation on Tuesday, October 6, declaring October as Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month in the Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills.
The proclamation celebrates the heritage, history, traditions and achievements of Italian Americans and their lasting contributions to the United States. It notes that generations of Italian immigrants came to the country seeking opportunity and a better life, bringing “a strong devotion to family, community, faith, hard work, and civic responsibility, values that continue to enrich communities throughout our nation.”
The proclamation recognizes Italian Americans’ contributions to business, education, government, science, medicine, law, the arts, athletics, public service and the United States Armed Forces. It also honors the influence of Italian figures such as Dante Alighieri, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei and Antonio Vivaldi, along with Italian Americans including former New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, Nobel Prize-winning physicist Enrico Fermi and baseball legend Joe DiMaggio.
The document also points out that New Jersey is home to one of the largest Italian-American populations in the country. It says the heritage, traditions, businesses, organizations and community involvement of Italian Americans “remain an important part of the cultural fabric of our state and of communities such as Parsippany–Troy Hills.”
In the proclamation, Desai encouraged all residents “to join in celebrating the rich history, culture, traditions, and achievements of Italian Americans and in recognizing their enduring contributions to our Township, our State, and our Nation.”
Mayor Pulkit Desai and Sons of Italy will be raising the Italian Flag at Town Hall, 1001 Parsippany Boulevard on Monday, October 12 at 5:00 p.m.
