Soloist Letriah Masters and members of Haverhill High School Chorus performed in front of City Hall Friday morning during the city’s Columbus Day observance. (WHAV News photograph by Dana Esmel.)
Italian Consul General of Boston Nicola DeSantis with officials including Mayor James J. Fiorentini and City Councilor Joseph J. Bevilacqua.
A bit of Italy was in the air during a Columbus Day observance at Haverhill City Hall Friday.
Italian Consul General of Boston Nicola DeSantis visited City Hall for a Columbus Day celebration, honoring the city’s Italian community and immigrant ancestors for whom, as Mayor James J. Fiorentini said, “Italy never left their hearts.” During a public reception in the mayor’s office, with members of the local Italian community present, Fiorentini read from a proclamation he presented to DeSantis.
“…And, whereas, 5.4 million Italians immigrated to the United States between 1820 and 1991 and, whereas, today we have over 26 million Americans of Italian descent—making us the fifth largest ethnic group in America—now therefore I, James Fiorentini—proud Italian and Mayor of the City of Haverhill—do hereby declare Oct. 10, 2016 Columbus Day,” Fiorentini said.
As the Italian flag was raised from above the front entrance outside city hall, an Italian music program featured the Haverhill High School Chorus and soloist Letriah Masters.
DeSantis reflected on the significance of the holiday named for the explorer, who sailed across the Atlantic in 1492 and reached the Caribbean island of San Salvador.
“Columbus Day is a celebration of a vision of a man who had a dream and (forward). It’s the same dream on the same path and the same journey that your ancestors, your grandparents, parents, did,” DeSantis said.
De Santis began his mandate as consul general in Boston during 2014. His jurisdiction is comprised of Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and New Hampshire.