Christopher Columbus, or at least the man portraying him for the day, was lost.
Moments before the start of Monday’s Columbus Day Parade, Felice Chillemi of Chicago couldn’t find his ship in the sea of floats lining Balbo Drive.
“Well, [Columbus] didn’t know where he was going either,” Chillemi said of the renowned navigator. Chillemi eventually broke down and asked for directions. Parade officials had given him a float number, but the order wasn’t immediately apparent or logical.
“You would think they would go 1 through 10, but they have things set up a little differently here,” Chillemi said.
Not long after he was on board a float designed to resemble the Santa Maria, the 52nd annual parade, sponsored by the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, began its six-block trek up Columbus Drive. The event was held to celebrate Columbus, the Italian explorer credited with having landed in the New World–now North America–in 1492.
At the head of Monday’s parade were dozens of dignitaries, including Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, Secretary of State Jesse White and Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown. Behind them were more than 100 organizations that included high school marching bands and community groups.
Amy Ringenberg and Stephanie Swierczynski drove from New Lenox to bring their sons to the parade, a first for all of them. They were among thousands who lined up Monday afternoon to wave miniature flags of Italy and the United States.
“The kids are fascinated,” Ringenberg said.
But not everyone found a reason to celebrate Columbus Day.
“Columbus didn’t do anything but massacre natives of Puerto Rico, Cuba and Dominican Republic,” said Sandra Sosa of Chicago, who was protesting the day. “It’s not a problem with the Italian community, but with the celebration of this individual.”
Sosa was among nearly two dozen protesters who staked out a spot in front of Buckingham Fountain and across from the parade’s reviewing stand.
Not every float in Monday’s parade had an obvious tie to Italian heritage.
On the float for the Italian-American newspaper Fra Noi, Lionel Bottari, Franco Paliferro and Angelo Zappia chose to honor the Romans and dressed as warriors from that time. The men made their costumes with metal body armor and leather sandals courtesy of a pattern found on the Internet. But floatmate Julino Campo had different plans. He was dressed as Elvis, with smoked sunglasses, sideburns and a white jumpsuit studded with jewels. “But I am Italian,” Campo said.
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lyue@tribune.com
