The Columbus Day Parade in New York City is the largest celebration of Italian-American culture in the United States. The position of Grand Marshal is an important one. Joe DiMaggio, Frank Sinatra, and Sophia Loren all served as Grand Marshals of past parades. Sandra Bookman sat down with this year's Grand Marshal, Mike Strianese who will lead the parade of marchers, bands and floats up Fifth Avenue.
"Columbus Day is the holiday for Italian-American recognition and what they brought to this country. I think it's a source of pride of many Italian-Americans," Strianese said. "The family from my mother's side, they were born in Palermo, Sicily. My father's side came from an area outside of Naples, which is known as Striano. Growing up with both a Sicilian background and a Neopolitan background."
