Speech #920113170

Columbus paved the way for the transformation of Western society. It is hardly surprising that his name is as familiar to our school children as the names of Lincoln or Washingtonand perhaps even more such is the enduring fascination inspired by the epic journeys of the great Genoese "Admiral of the Western Sea." Our celebration of Columbus Day. now happily included for the first time among our national Federal holidays. involves considerably more than the honoring of Columbus. Rather. it includes in some sense all those many millions who have come to these shores in his wake. immigrantz from virtually every nation. enriching our common heritage beyond measure. Columbus Day reminds us that. except for those who are descendants of the American Indians. we are all the sons and daughters of immigrants. Columbus Day commemorates the fact that our greatest strength as a people. ever since the days of the first settlers. had been an ability to live together in some degree of harmony. overcoming tensions and strains. to build a nation together. Certainly this has been tre for our Italian Americans. and it is they who are our special concern at this time. sharing the cultural and national patrimony of Columbus himself. Italy has contributed a larger number of immigrants to American shores than has any other nation in the world. except for Germany. The contribution of Italians and Italian Americans to America has been continuous and significant. touching every area of life and thought with distinction: explorers and discoverers. patriotsincluding William Paca. a signer of the Declaration of Independenceleaders in the world of Independenceleaders in the world of the arts. in sports. in political life. in commerce and in industry. Apart from any litany of great names. Italian Americans have given the Nation a large community among whom the values of family life have fluorishedat a time when these values are badly eroded throughout our society. Stability. hard work. decency. honestythese are characteristic of the vast majority of Italian American families. . unspectacular in themselves. they help maintain the fabric of American life. It is no accident that the first American to win canonization by the Catholic Church was Mother Cabrini. whose example of sacrificial love for the immigrant has inspired all who know of her. regardless of creed. Perhaps the greatest thing about Columbus Day is its reminder that life can be lived in the light of faith and conceived as divine vocation: Columbus believed that it was his mission to bring the Christian Gospel to the Americas. His finest tribute is found in the words of Santayana.