The Board of Directors of the Italian American Leadership Forum (IALF), founded in 2023, have coordinated a wreath laying ceremony at the Giovanni da Verrazzano Statue in New York City’s Battery Park at 11:30 AM to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of the arrival of Giovanni da Verrazzano, an Italian navigator and explorer who traveled under the flag of France in his voyages across the Atlantic.

The Consul General of Italy to New York, Fabrizio Di Michele, has expressed the full support of his office in ensuring the success of this memorable event as he will attend and address formal greetings. He, along with Governor Kathy Hochul; Mayor Eric Adams; Cedrik Fouriscot, Consul General of France in New York; and Susan Donoghue, Commissioner, New York City Parks, are all invited to speak at this celebratory occasion.

It is anticipated that attendees will include representatives from various regions of Italy. Michael G. Polo, chair of the IALF, commented recently: “This Verrazzano Quincentenary provides us all as Italian Americans and those who know the history of the famous explorer with a great opportunity to come together and salute such a historic event. It will be a time to remind our youth, especially, of the ‘Spirit of Discovery’ and its importance.”

Giovanni da Verrazzano hailed from Florence and lived from 1485 and 1528. He is best known for being the first European to explore the Atlantic coast of North America between the Carolinas and Newfoundland. Among his honors is the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which opened in 1964, and spans a tidal straight that connects New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean, connecting Brooklyn to Staten Island.

Various organizations were invited to register their respective programs, tributes and salutations of the historic event of April 17, 1524. For a list of events submitted and to submit your own, visit the event page on IALF website here.

The Italian American Leadership Forum (IALF) is an association of major Italian American organizations representing the needs of an estimated 18 million Americans of Italian heritage. The IALF serves as a mechanism to discuss, debate and act on the most important public policy issues facing our community. The IALF is a coordinative body, that encourages, supports and assists the membership to build consensus and advance our shared goals.

Learn more and apply to join as an associate organization on IALF’s website: www.IALForum.org.

Click here to learn more about the history of Giovanni da Verrazzano.