THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY COSTA, MELLOW, WARD, PILEGGI, LOGAN, SCARNATI, FARNESE, BOSCOLA, DINNIMAN, FERLO, FONTANA, HUGHES, KASUNIC, KITCHEN, LEACH, MUSTO, O'PAKE, STACK, STOUT, TARTAGLIONE, WASHINGTON, WILLIAMS AND WOZNIAK, OCTOBER 9, 2009

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 9, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of October 2009 as "Italian-American

Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Christopher Columbus was a navigator, colonizer and

explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean led to

widespread European awareness of the American continents in the

Western Hemisphere; and

WHEREAS, Columbus' voyage in 1492 for King Ferdinand II and

Queen Isabella of Spain opened up critical routes for trade

between Spain and the New World; and

WHEREAS, Columbus also made a total of four trips to the

Caribbean and South America between 1492 and 1504; and

WHEREAS, The Commission for Social Justice division of the

Order of the Sons of Italy in America honors Christopher

Columbus and the many accomplishments of Italian Americans; and

WHEREAS, The Commission for Social Justice regularly informs

the media and general public about Italian-American

achievements, contributions, history and culture; and

WHEREAS, Italian Americans are the fifth largest ethnic group

in the United States according to the United States Census

Bureau and have made significant contributions in the arts,

athletics, education, politics, exploration and business; and

WHEREAS, The Senate recognizes the many accomplishments of

Italian Americans and wishes to bring these achievements to the

attention of the public in this Commonwealth; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of October 2009

as "Italian-American Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.