Italian-American families and fellow Walla Walla community members turned out on a busy Saturday, Sept. 11, to show support for a statue of Christopher Columbus, erected by local Italian ancestors. At least 150 people assembled at the Walla Walla County Courthouse lawn, with a steady breeze blowing an assemblage of flags — a half-staff flag on the courthouse flagpole, green line American flags in honor of deceased U.S. soldiers, a large American flag on the court’s exterior in honor of 9/11 and an Italian flag just beneath the statue of Columbus, flown by the Italian-heritage people gathered there.
At the event, people publicly shared their desire to keep the statue erected by Italian-heritage Walla Wallans in 1911, descendants of immigrants shared their stories and other community members expressed sympathy and support for the Italian community.
