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Designating the week of Monday, October 3 through Monday, October 10, 2016 as "Christopher Columbus/Italian American Heritage Week" in the City of Philadelphia. This is done in celebration of the festivities commemorating Columbus' historic voyage to the New World and honoring Danny Aiello as Grand Marshall of the 2016 Philadelphia Columbus Day Parade.
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WHEREAS, Five hundred and twenty-four years ago, a courageous Italian visionary set out on what would become one of the most momentous journeys in the annals of history. Christopher Columbus and the maps he charted to the "New World" were guiding lights to every ship that came to America; and
WHEREAS, The annual Philadelphia Columbus Day Parade began in South Philadelphia in 1957, and has since become one of the City's premier ethnic celebrations. On October 9, 2016, the 1492 Society will host the annual parade. In addition to the active participation of the Delaware Valley's Italian American community, the Philadelphia Columbus Day Parade tradition includes the world famous Philadelphia Mummers string bands, outstanding high school and elementary school marching bands and many other marching groups representing the various ethnic traditions of our great City. The Parade seeks to foster a spirit of multi-culturalism and respect for people of all ethnic backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Grand Marshall Danny Aiello, born Daniel Louis Aiello, Jr., on June 20, 1933 in New York City, the son of Italian American parents Francis Pietrocova Aiello and Daniel Louis Aiello, Sr.; and
WHEREAS, Danny Aiello has had a long and illustrious career on stage and screens both big and small and even in the recording studio; and
WHEREAS, Danny Aiello has received numerous Golden Globe and Academy Awards nominations for his roles in such memorable films as Moonstruck, Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing, Lieberman in Love, which won an Academy Award, Bang the Drum Slowly, The Godfather, Part II, Fort Apache the Bron...
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