Westfield Celebrates Italian-American Heritage at Columbus Day Ceremony

Westfield celebrated Italian-American heritage on Sunday, October 11, with a Columbus Day Ceremony at Town Hall. Despite rain that moved the event indoors to the Community Room, the gathering brought together community members, government officials, and cultural leaders to honor Italian-American contributions and history.

Gene Jannoti served as Master of Ceremonies. Keith Gibbons, Westfield Police Department Senior Chaplain, delivered the invocation and benediction.

Robert J. Tarte and Rocco Buonomo were honored as Co-Grand Marshals. Tarte has been a member of UNICO National for 52 years and has served in numerous local, district, and national offices. Buonomo was the longtime owner of Buono Pizza in Westfield and has served as president of the Westfield Italian-American Club.

Tarte emphasized the importance of preserving Italian-American history for younger generations. “If we don’t have this, the younger generations will not even know about it. So it’s up to us now to keep this alive, and hopefully the younger generation will follow the lead,” he said.

The event featured remarks from several elected officials. Tom Kean Jr., representative of New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District, spoke, as did State Senator Jon Bramnick and LD-21 Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy. Union County Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded also addressed attendees.

Westfield Ward 2 Councilman Mike Armento, a first-generation Italian-American, reflected on his family’s journey and his own path to public service. His father immigrated from a small town in Southern Italy, working in a factory while attending college to provide for his family.

“While Columbus Day acknowledges significant achievement in history, it honors generations of Italian-Americans, who came to America trying to achieve a better life for their families. Italians did not have an easy ride in America,” Armento said.

He also spoke about his own accomplishment in local government. “I don’t think my father could’ve imagined 72 years after he stepped on the shores of America, his son would be involved with local government, giving a speech at the Columbus Day Celebration. But this is the story of countless Italian-Americans,” he said.

Westfield Board of Education President Rob Benacchio stressed the role of families and communities in preserving cultural traditions. “We can teach students formally in classrooms, we can come to ceremonies like this and learn,” he said. “I want to ask for your help in this process.”

Additional speakers included Andre DiMino, president of the Italian-American One Voice Coalition; Shawn Mullen, immediate past grand knight of the Westfield Knights of Columbus; Anthony Bengivenga, Past National President of UNICO; and representatives from UNICO District X and local Italian-American organizations.

Eric Deutchman, a Westfield resident, played the accordion for the US and Italian national anthems and provided musical accompaniment throughout the ceremony. Attendees were offered sandwiches, cookies, and coffee, and mini Italian flags were available as mementos.

Kieth Mannino attended with his daughter Clementine. “It was great to share this with my daughter. I belong to the Italian-American Club in Westfield, so I wanted her to come down and experience our heritage as well as meeting the guys in the club,” Mannino said.

FAQ

Q: What was the purpose of the Westfield Columbus Day ceremony?
A: The ceremony celebrated Italian-American heritage and honored the contributions of Italian-Americans to the community and nation. It emphasized the importance of preserving Italian-American history and cultural traditions for younger generations.

Q: Who were the Co-Grand Marshals?
A: Robert J. Tarte and Rocco Buonomo were honored as Co-Grand Marshals. Tarte has been a member of UNICO National for 52 years and served in various local, district, and national offices. Buonomo was the longtime owner of Buono Pizza in Westfield and has served as president of the Westfield Italian-American Club.

Q: What government officials spoke at the ceremony?
A: Speakers included Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District, State Senator Jon Bramnick, LD-21 Assemblyman Andrew Macurdy, Union County Commissioner Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded, Westfield Ward 2 Councilman Mike Armento, and Westfield Board of Education President Rob Benacchio.

Q: Why was the ceremony moved indoors?
A: Rainy weather prompted organizers to move the ceremony from its original outdoor location to the Community Room in Town Hall.

Q: What did Councilman Mike Armento discuss at the ceremony?
A: Armento, a first-generation Italian-American, spoke about his father’s immigration from Southern Italy and his journey to provide for his family. He reflected on his own path to public service and the experiences of countless Italian-American families seeking better lives in America.