A RESOLUTION

 

1Recognizing the month of October 2013 as "Italian-American
2Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, The explorer, Christopher Columbus, a son of a wool
4merchant, was born in Genoa, Italy, around 1451; and

5WHEREAS, Christopher Columbus was determined to find a
6quicker route west from Europe to Asia and embarked on what
7would end up being four trips across the Atlantic Ocean starting
8in 1492; and

9WHEREAS, Christopher Columbus accidentally stumbled upon the
10Americas in his voyages and his journeys resulted in centuries
11of explorations on the American continent; and

12WHEREAS, Today, we accredit Christopher Columbus with Italian
13immigration to the New World and what is now Pennsylvania; and

14WHEREAS, Currently, there are more than 26 million Americans
15of Italian heritage in the United States, with more than 1.5
16million Americans of Italian heritage residing in Pennsylvania;

1and

2WHEREAS, Italian Americans have become one of this
3Commonwealth's most influential ethnic groups; and

4WHEREAS, Most Italians settled in the Philadelphia and
5Pittsburgh regions, however, throughout this Commonwealth, the
6immigrants faced hardships with low pay and hazardous jobs
7during the early centuries, prompting them to support labor
8union movements; and

9WHEREAS, Despite instances of discrimination and
10exploitation, Italian Americans did not surrender their values
11or culture; and

12WHEREAS, Instead, the citizens of Italian decent developed
13religious, political, economic and social institutions to
14support themselves in adjusting to life in this Commonwealth and
15to preserve their heritage; and

16WHEREAS, The Order Sons of Italy in America is currently the
17largest and oldest national organization for men and women of
18Italian heritage in the United States, with many chapters
19located in this Commonwealth; and

20WHEREAS, Italian Americans have become prominent in
21Pennsylvania for the arts, law, science, government, commerce,
22manufacturing and finance; therefore be it

23RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the month of October 2013
24as "Italian-American Heritage Month" in Pennsylvania and commend
25the early immigrants for their important role in the history of
26this Commonwealth.