It's been more than 500 years since Italian explorer Christopher Columbus' jaunts across the Atlantic Ocean initiated Europe's permanent colonization of North America.

But every October, Queens residents still celebrate his historic yet controversial boat ride to the islands of the Caribbean Sea and their own Italian heritage with a parade. Last Saturday's Columbus Day parade in Astoria saw streets lined with onlookers and filled with marchers waving to the crowds.

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Source: http://www.qchron.com/