Suozzi Celebrates his Italian Heritage by Honoring life of Italian-American NYPD Detective, Meeting with Italian President, and Marching in Columbus Day Parades

This week, Congressman Tom Suozzi (D-Long Island, Queens) celebrated his Italian heritage both in Washington, D.C. and at home, in his 3rd Congressional District.

On Thursday, he met with Sergio Mattarella, the current and 12th President of Italy at a meeting with the Italian-American Congressional Delegation. The meeting was a part of President Mattarella’s official visit to the United States.

“It was a great honor to meet Italian President Sergio Mattarella and welcome him to Capitol Hill. Italy is one of our most valued allies and continues to work with the United States to foster peace and prosperity around the world,” said Suozzi. “As a first-generation Italian-American, I have a soft spot for Italy, but did you know that Italy is the 8th largest economy in the world and one of our most reliable NATO partners.”

Earlier this week, Suozzi spoke on the House floor to honor the life and legacy of Italian-American Lieutenant Detective Giuseppe “Joe” Petrosino. New York Police Department Detective Petrosio was assassinated in Sicily 110 years ago, while investigating organized crime. Lt. Det. Petrosino was the first NYPD officer killed overseas in the line of duty. Congressman Suozzi’s floor speech can be viewed here.

On Thursday, Suozzi attended a reception in Washington, held by the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America. In honor of Italian Culture Month, the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America, Inc. visited Washington this week along partners from Padula and Palermo, Italy. 

“Detective Petrosino was a true American hero. Today, his legacy and dedication to the NYPD endure thanks to the work of the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America in New York, Padula, and Sicily”, said Suozzi. “Solving many of the world’s problems, including fighting crime, requires the sacrifice of an untold number of men and women in blue. We thank them, and their families, for putting themselves in harm’s way on our behalf.”

This past weekend, Suozzi marched in both the Huntington and New York City Columbus Day Parades.

Huntington’s annual parade, sponsored by the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA), Grand Lodge of New York, was held on Sunday along a 2-mile stretch of Main Street. The theme for this year’s parade was “The Year of the Woman,” honoring the parade’s Grand Marshals: Nancy DiFiore Quinn, National President of OSDIA, Mary Naccarato, NYS OSDIA First Lady, Lina Ferrito, NYS OSDIA past-First Lady, and Jill Nicolini, WPIX Ch. 11 traffic reporter. Before the parade, Suozzi attended the OSDIA breakfast where he presented the four Grand Marshals with citations.

On Monday, Suozzi marched in the 75th annual Columbus Day Parade up New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Marching with Suozzi was Robert Fonti, President of the Lt. Det. Joseph Petrosino Association in America, along with members of the association. During the parade, Suozzi was joined by musicians and singers and performed an impromptu rendition of "Funiculì, Funiculà,” a Neapolitan standard. Before the parade, Suozzi attended Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and spoke at a breakfast hosted by the Petrosino Association.

Suozzi’s father, Joseph Suozzi, was born in Ruvo del Monte, a small, medieval village in southern Italy. After arriving in the United States as a child in the 1920s, and despite facing intense prejudice as an Italian, Joseph Suozzi went on to serve the United States in World War II, graduated from Harvard Law School, and, at the age of 28, became the youngest elected judge in the history of New York State.

In August, Suozzi received the prestigious Guglielmo Marconi Award, the Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America’s (OSDIA) highest honor. It is presented biennially to an Italian American who has made significant contributions to the United States.