President’s Message – October 2009

As we change seasons from summer to fall, Italian Americans move into a very special time of the year. This year’s Columbus Day’s celebration holds a greater meaning for New Jersey’s Italian American community.   This year is the first time in which the month of October is officially celebrated as Italian American heritage month. This past year the New Jersey State Legislature passed SJR-73/AJR-97 which designated October as Italian American Heritage Month permanently. This Bill was signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine after a lot of hard work by the State’s Ital-ian American organizations.   I would like to thank the Society’s long time friends in the Legislature for their steadfast support of this project.  Senators Anthony Bucco and Paul Sarlo along with Assemblyman Fred Scalera were instrumental in getting this measure passed and signed into law.   I would like to thank the NJ State Sons of Italy and its Presi-dent Tom Bergbauer for taking the leadership role in galvanizing the states Italian American organizations.   This Columbus Day we will have the pleasure of marching up 5th Avenue in New York City with twenty members of the Polizia di Stato (Italian State Police).   Our brothers and sisters from Italy will be in New Jersey as guests of the Morris County Columbus Day Parade Committee.   As usual, our friends and colleagues from the NYPD Columbia Association will welcome us with open arms to celebrate the Nation’s largest Columbus Day Parade. This year our Society will be represented by our lovely 2009 Parade Queen, Miss Ashley Sierchio,  daughter of Bloomfield Detective John Sierchio.   As the Fall turns to Winter,  I would invite our members to help participate in the Holiday Party that our Society hosts for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Bergen, Morris and Passaic Counties. It is a heartwarming experience to see these kids as Santa & Mrs. Claus (aka Mom & Dad) give them gifts and clothes. Some of these kids come from poor homes and these presents are the highlights of the holiday. Please consider attending to help make this holiday even brighter for those less fortunate.   Finally, I would like to remind all of our members to remember Jersey City Police Officer Marc DiNardo in they’re prayers.  This young Italian American hero gave his life to protect his fellow officers and the citizens of Jersey City. He leaves behind a family that will never be the same.   Let’s take a minute to remember this Italian Ameri-can hero.   Lets also remember the Society members that are on active duty protecting our nation. Lets keep Madison Police Officer Alan Imperiale safe while he serves as a US Marine Corps officer for a third tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.   I wish all members and their families a healthy and safe Fall.   I invite you to contact me at IAPSNJ@aol.com if I can ever be of assistance.   I am proud to be your President and thank the Executive Board for making our organization the Finest!

Fraternally yours,
William Schievella