The History of Columbus Day in Kansas City
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Kansas City Star, September 18, 1909
They’ll honor C. Columbus a Celebration of the New Holiday by Italians October 12.
“Through the influence of the Italians of Missouri, a bill was passed by the last legislature of Missouri making Columbus Day, October 12, a legal holiday. To celebrate the day in Kansas City, a committee composed of delegates from thirteen Italian fraternal and religious societies have planned a parade, and a picnic at the City Garden, Nineteenth Street and Grand Avenue. Tony Armenio is chairman of the committee. A float showing Columbus and his men in their ship, with Indians on the shore bidding them welcome, will be the feature of the parade. Frank Cosentino designed the float.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Senator M.E. Casey from Jackson County introduced a bill to make Columbus Day a legal holiday. Governor Hadley signed Senator Casey’s bill on May 12, 1909, making Columbus Day, October 12th, a legal holiday in the state of Missouri. Columbus Day did not become a federal holiday until 1937. Although it wasn’t a legal holiday the Italians in Kansas City celebrated Columbus Day as far back as 1883. In the early 20th century the Columbus Day celebrations in Kansas City included dances, dinners, picnics, parades, and public speeches.
Over the years most of the Columbus Day festivities have died out. The American Sons of Columbus carried on the tradition and sponsored the parade for several years but, by 1992, the parade had completely died out. Even though the parade died out the American Sons of Columbus continue to celebrate Columbus Day by honoring the “Columbian of the Year” and by awarding scholarships to local Italian-American high school students. On October 12, 1992, a Christopher Columbus monument was dedicated at Calvary Cemetery in Kansas City. Calvary & Forest Hills cemeteries donated the monument. Bob Michelleti, director of marketing for Cavalry & Forest Hills cemeteries was quoted in a Kansas City Star article published October 8, 1992, regarding the monument, “We felt that with the 500th year of Columbus’ arrival and the strong support of the Italian and Catholic communities, the monument was the way to show support.” The Christopher Columbus monument was moved to the grounds of Holy Rosary Catholic Church in 2011.
Columbus Day has become a major controversy throughout the United States but, in the words of one of Kansas City’s Italian American community leaders,
“Columbus was an Italian, but what he did was make (the United States) an ethnic celebration. What he did, Columbus didn’t discover America. He founded America and allowed all great ethnic groups to come to America.” Carl DiCapo, 1992