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County of Union, UNICO District X to hold TENTH Annual Columbus Day Flag Raising on Friday, October 5th at Union County Courthouse

featuring speeches from Nino Quaglia, President of the Elizabeth Chapter of UNICO, Santi Buscemi, from Plainfields’ UNICO, Geri Samuels, District X Unico, and Mike Guarino of Elizabeth

The Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders announced that Union County’s tenth annual Columbus Day Flag Raising event is set for Friday, Oct. 5th, at 1 p.m., on the steps of the historic Union County Courthouse.

“This year is a special anniversary, as we mark the tenth year, and we will be featuring speakers from UNICO who we have partnered with to create this event,” said Freeholder Alexander Mirabella, who is emceeing the program, and founded the flag raising event. “This is a celebration of Italian culture and history. Italian-Americans continue to make extraordinary contributions to the rich, diverse fabric of  our County, New Jersey and America.”

“Italians have had a tremendous influence in so many areas of our life from great art, literature music and food,” said Freeholder Chairman Sergio Granados. “The flag provides all an opportunity to celebrate this great culture, and celebrate the ongoing contributions of Italian Americans.”

Speakers include: Nino Quaglia, the President of the Elizabeth Chapter of UNICO, Geri Samuel, a former Mayor and Councilmember in Scotch Plains who is the UNICO District X Governor,  Santi V. Buscemi, an English Professor at Middlesex County College and an author who is a member and past President of Plainfields’ UNICO, and Mike Guarino, the President of the Columbus Parade Association of Union County.

UNICO is the nation’s largest Italian American service organization whose chapters and members engage in promoting and defending Italian culture and heritage, as well as providing scholarships, engaging in community service and other philanthropic endeavors.

The courthouse is located at 2 Broad St. in Elizabeth at the corner of Rahway Avenue. In the event of rain, the program will be moved indoors to the County Courthouse Rotunda.

UNICO District X and Plainfields’ UNICO work to organize and co-sponsor the event.

Italian-style refreshments will be served after the program in the historic Union County Courthouse. Parking (pay) is available in the Midtown area at the J. Christian Bollwage Parking deck at Elizabethtown Plaza and Caldwell Place. A second deck is Elizabeth’s Parking Deck No. 6 on Jefferson Avenue and Dickinson Street—the entrance is on Dickinson Street.