[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 143 (Monday, October 21, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE ITALIAN TRIBUNE COLUMBUS DAY PARADE

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                        HON. WILLIAM J. MARTINI

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 21, 1996

  Mr. MARTINI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 26th 
Annual Columbus Day Celebration and Parade in Newark, NJ, sponsored by 
the Italian Tribune.
  As we all know, Christopher Columbus crossed the Atlantic Ocean in 
search of a New World. Shunned by skeptics and ridiculed by less 
adventurous souls, Columbus embarked on his trek armed with little more 
than a vision of the future and an irrefutable desire for success.
  Christopher Columbus was born to a family of weavers and merchants in 
the Genoa Republic of northern Italy. He soon became a man of the world 
as he traveled through Spain and Portugal. Throughout his travels, 
Columbus became fascinated with the lore of the Orient. He soon became 
consumed with the idea of discovering a new quicker way to the shores 
of Asia. He believed that way was toward the oceans of the west.
  On September 6, 1492, Columbus set sail from Palos in search of a 
more direct route to Asia, but only God knew his journey would bring 
even more wondrous discoveries. Two minutes after midnight on October 
12, 1492, the screams of ``Land! Land!'' broke the silence of the 
night. As the Pinta, sailing ahead of the other ships, approached the 
sandy white beach, the crew raised the flag to its highest mast and 
fired a cannon to alert the other ships of the discovery.
  While Columbus originally thought he had found a more direct route to 
Asia, he soon realized that he made a more remarkable discovery--a New 
World.
  Mr. Speaker, over the last 26 years, this parade has been a 
cornerstone of the Italian-American and Newark community. Similar to 
the way Columbus breached the gap between the Old and the New Worlds, 
the parade brings together members of Newark's diverse population in a 
celebration of Christopher Columbus. This parade, in the spirit of 
Christopher Columbus, shows how the Newark community can overcome 
cultural differences to gather and celebrate with each other.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Italian Tribune, and thank 
them for their continued support of this important community event.

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