Friday , October 8th, 1:30 p.m.
at steps of County Courthouse
Speakers include former Governor Don DiFrancesco,
UNICO National President Chris DiMattio, Freeholder Chairman Dan Sullivan
and County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi among others
Elizabeth, NJ-Union County Freeholder Chairman Daniel P. Sullivan today announced the County’s second Annual Columbus Day Flag Raising event set for Friday, October 8th, at 1:30 p.m. on the steps of the historic Union County Courthouse.
The event features speeches from former New Jersey Acting Governor and former State Senator Don DiFrancesco, who helped create the New Jersey Italian and Italian-American Heritage Commission, Michael Genevrino, Director of the New Jersey Italian American Heritage Commission, Dr. Thomas Bistocchi, Superintendent of the Union County Vocational Technical Schools system and Carmen Centuolo, Union County Schools Superintendent. Others expected to participate include Andrea Barbaria, the Consulate of Italy in Newark, and UNICO National President Chris DiMattio, and Andre’ DiMino, UNICO Past National President and current Italian American One Voice Coalition President.
Freeholder Sullivan will host and emcee the event, and Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi will also participate. Freeholder Alexander Mirabella is expected to attend and participate in ceremonies.
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.
“Italians and Italian-Americans continue to make extraordinary contributions to every facet of American life,” said Sullivan, who is of Italian and Irish descent. “Their influence is not only felt on a national level but on a global level, as Italians continue to distinguish themselves in so many fields. It’s also a day to mark the contributions of our Italian ancestors who helped to discover and build this Country.”
UNICO District X, through the efforts of its Governor William Hearon and Deputy District Governor Robert Bengivenga, worked with Plainfields’ UNICO President Anthony Bengivenga and Renato Biribin, a past National President of UNICO, to co-host the flag raising.
Italian-style refreshments will be served after the event in the recently restored rotunda of 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 by at the Midtown Train Station entrance on W. Grand Street. The entrance to the train station. All visitors are urged to arrive early due to road construction projects ongoing in the area.
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