County Executive George Latimer Raises Italian Flag for Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month

Watch the full press conference here.

To commemorate Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month, which is celebrated to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States, a flag raising ceremony was held on Tuesday October 5 at 3:15 p.m. at Kensico Dam Plaza. Heritage Month is held in October to coincide with Columbus Day, the American national holiday traditionally celebrated on the second Monday in October.

Westchester County Director George Latimer said: “Many Italian-American residents live in Westchester County because it is where their ancestors chose to settle and work hard to provide for their needs. their family, dating back to the early 1900s at Kensico Dam as it was built by immigrant Italian masons with stone quarried from the adjacent Cranberry Lake reserve. I feel particularly close to this part of our history because my great-grandparents were part of this migratory wave, from Benevento, Italy. The raising of the Italian flag at Kensico Dam Plaza is a reminder of the important role the Italians played in making Westchester what it is today.

Westchester County Parks Commissioner Kathy O’Connor said, “Kensico Dam Plaza is home to where we celebrate many of the cultures that make up Westchester County. Having the Italian flag here for October representing Italian American Heritage and Culture Month is just one way parks can help honor Westchester’s diversity.

Italian-American Heritage Month celebrates the distinguished cultural contributions of Americans of Italian lineage.