Speakers include Elizabeth Bettina, author of “It Happened in Italy,” Italian American ONE VOICE President Andre’ DiMino, Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella, County Surrogate James LaCorte, County Manager Al Faella, and UNICO District X Governor Robert Bengivenga
Elizabeth, NJ—Union County Freeholder Vice Chairman Alexander Mirabella today announced the County’s third Annual Columbus Day Flag Raising event is set for Friday, October 7th, at 1:30 p.m. on the steps of the historic Union County Courthouse.
David Toma, a resident of Clark, dubbed by the Daily News as the “greatest policeman alive” will deliver the keynote address. Toma has received 2,000 awards and numerous honorary PH Ds throughout his career that has resulted in two popular TV series about him — “Toma” starring Tony Musante and “Baretta” with Robert Blake. He’s also written seven books and numerous others have been written about him, some in places as far as Japan.
Elizabeth Bettina, author of the book, “It happened in Italy: Untold Stories of How the People of Italy Defied the Horrors of the Holocaust,” will speak about the lesser known story of Italians and the Catholic Church which worked to save the lives of many Jewish refugees during World War II.
Other speakers include Andre’ DiMino, President of the Italian American One Voice Coalition, which has led the fight against “Jersey Shore,” Union County Surrogate James LaCorte–who was nominated as man of the year by the Elizabeth Chapter of UNICO, Union County Manager Al Faella, and UNICO District X Governor Robert Bengivenga.
Freeholder Mirabella will host and emcee the event. The Courthouse is located at 2 Broad Street in Elizabeth at the corner of Rahway Avenue. In the event of rain, the program will be moved in doors to the County Courthouse Rotunda.
“Italian Americans continue to make amazing contributions to America, and we celebrate those contributions as well as a culture that has made the greatest contributions to modern society,” said Mirabella, whose father, Gene, was the first Italian American Police Chief of Elizabeth, NJ. The Union County Sheriff’s Firearm Training Facility is named in his honor.
UNICO District X and the County of Union works with Plainfields’ UNICO to organize and co-sponsor the event.
Italian-style refreshments will be served after the event in the historic Union County Courthouse.
Parking (pay) is available in the Midtown area at Elizabeth’s Parking Deck #6 on Jefferson Avenue and Dickinson Street—the entrance is on Dickinson Street. A second deck is also close at the Midtown Train Station entrance on W. Grand Street.
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