The Italian Heritage Association of Walla Walla hopes to gather support for a Christopher Columbus statue on the Walla Walla County Courthouse lawn at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11. The day marks the 110th anniversary of the dedication of the Christopher Columbus statue located at 315 W. Main St.

Organizers plan to gather signatures on a petition and support letters to Walla Walla County commissioners in favor of keeping the Columbus statue in place, said IHA member Teresa Fausti. IHA in 2020 submitted a proposal to county commissioners to donate a historical plaque and bench in front of the statue, to educate visitors and locals about the historical significance.