Bands, elected officials, and most prominent of all, residents proud of their Italian heritage, marched in Sunday’s Long Island Columbus Day parade in Huntington.
Heroes of Italian heritage, including NYPD Lt. Joseph Petrosino, who was killed investigating the mafia in Italy, Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone, a Marine who won the Medal of Honor on Gaudalcanal but was killed in 1945 while fighting at Iwo Jima, and Capt. Kathy Mazza, a Port Authority officer killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.
Some parade participants displayed the slogan “Save Columbus Day,” a campaign of the Order Sons of Italyto maintain the holiday that is opposed by some who want to rename the holiday Indigenous Peoples Day.
[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”24″ display=”basic_slideshow”]The Long Island Fall Festival in Heckscher Park wraps up Monday.