Spectacular floats, marching bands and costumed strollers were among the crowd pleasers as festive frolickers embraced the dolce vita by kicking off the 27th Annual Brooklyn Columbus Parade along Christoforo Colombo Boulevard.
The jubilant jaunt, sponsored by the Federation of Italian-American Organization (FIAO), drew mom, dad and the kids to share their national pride with like-minded revelers, marching up the avenue – also known as 18th Avenue – and transforming it into a vibrant concourse of fun and festivity to celebrate the discovery of America by the legendary Italian seafarer.
A procession of grand marshals – among them City Planning Commissioner Angela Battaglia, Giuffre Motors President John Giuffre and local attorney and grassroots activist Carl Tavolacci – led the line of march, beginning at 61st Street and proceeding to “Liberty Pole Boulevard” at the New Utrecht Reformed Church on 84th Street.
Following close behind was a convoy of school groups, marching bands and area fraternal groups, who pounded the pavement alongside the borough’s uniformed workers and residents, who united to celebrate the contributions of Italian-Americans as they celebrated their national pride.
Closing ceremonies were conducted at the Liberty Pole on the front lawn of the house of worship.
Towering from 106-feet and topped by a “liberty eagle,” the flagpole is a national landmark, erected when the British were driven out in 1783, and the last of its kind in the nation.
