The Cook County Treasurer and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans Attend Flag Raising and Kickoff Event Ahead of Columbus Day Parade

The Cook County Treasurer and Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans President Ron Onesti will proudly welcome a special delegation from Italy during a flag raising celebration at NOON on Friday, October 9, 2026, in Daley Plaza.

The delegation from Campagna will play a key role ahead of the 74^th annual Columbus Day Parade in downtown Chicago on Monday.

Following the flag raising, a reception will be held in the Cook County Treasurer’s Office, located at 118 N. Clark St., Room 112, Chicago.

During this event guests will be entertained with a live performance by the world-renowned Tenor of Cinque Terre Eros Lombardo.

The Treasurer will also present Certificates of Excellence to a group of Italian civic and religious leaders from the Campagna region.

“More than 600,000 Italian Americans in Chicagoland have helped make Cook County and its surrounding areas one of the largest Italian population centers in the world,” said the Treasurer. “With their soaring church spires, crowded parishes and schools, and thriving business corridors, Chicago’s Italian population has left an indelible mark on our hometown. I’m honored to recognize that proud tradition and the people who continue to help shape it.”

This celebration also serves as a lead-in to the Columbus Day parade, which will take place downtown Chicago on Monday, October 12. Joining the delegation of political and civic leaders are more than 30 young people from the Campagna Youth Orchestra who will grace the crowd with their talents.

Honorees: Mino Pignata, Mayor, City of Oliveto Citra; Luciano Marchetta, Director, Teresa Confalonieri Orchestra di Campagna; Raffaele Naimoli, Vice Mayor, City of Campagna; Rosita Sali, Municipal Councilor, Sant’Angelo Lodigiano; Giuseppe Carlin, Municipal Councilor, Sant’Angelo Lodigiano; Fabrizio Polino, Oliveto Citra Police Department; Marcello Naimoli, Campagna Museum Director; Angelo Caloia, Campagna Council Member

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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