Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade celebration

Italian pride was on display in Bensonhurst, during the 30thannual Columbus Parade along 18th Avenue last Saturday, October8.

Under sunny skies, marchers wended their way from 60th Street to84th Street, where a stage was set up in the shadow of the NewUtrecht Reformed Church, where the parade traditionallyterminates.

Music was provided by marching bands; the community spirit wasoffered up by area residents – Italian or Italian for the day – whomarched with their schools or stood on the sidelines waving theflags of Italy and the United States.

The grand marshals for 2011 were Willy Basso, president of BenBay Kiwanis; Karina Costantino, District 20’s communitysuperintendent; and Richard Pileggi, retired deputy chief officerof the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.