Preserving Italian-American Heritage and Saving a Columbus Statue

0:00 Speaker 1 Sunday morning. What’s going on in the White House? What’s going on in the Italian community. Well, there was a big announcement, very big with us today. Is Angela Vivilo, he’s the president of the Columbus Heritage Coalition. Tell us about it. The Columbus statue but that was toppled in Baltimore.

0:22 Is on our way to the White House? Angelo Vivilo, tell us about it.

0:28 Speaker 2 Well, John, thanks for having me on this Sunday. I can’t tell you how delighted I am and the entire Italian American community for the great support that President Trump and the decision that he made to bring the statue to the White House and have it on the White House ground. This statue, as you know, as you said,

0:49 was destroyed and put into the Baltimore Harbor. And it wasn’t an Italian American who fished it out. It was just a great American who fished it who took got got it out of the water and had his son reconstruct the statue. And they had it for a while, and it wasn’t until President Trump reached out to him

1:11 and said that he wanted to take that statue and put it on the ground of the White House. I can’t tell you how appreciated, how much I appreciate, and how much the Italian mary community appreciates what he’s doing.

1:25 I mean, it’s just incredible. I hope God will get the opportunity to shake his hand and thank him in person someday, because he did an incredible gesture and suddenly, you know, it shows support not only for the ten Americans, but it shows support for those people who other statues that I’m sure will probably be added to this collection

1:45 of statues on the grounds of the White House, celebrating contributions that people have made throughout the years, and it just preserves our history. I can’t say enough about how wonderful this is. And thank you John for allowing me to speak out and to acknowledge this great thing, give recognition or appreciation for what the President has done.

2:13 Speaker 1 Well. I am so glad that the President is supporting the Italian community. And you know, he’s a New Yorker and he knows how important the Italian community is in New York too, and all the good work that you do, and you know, and I’m part of Italian too, and I was very happy to hear it. And I would

2:31 hope that if there’s a democratic administration in the future, that they commit to leave the Columbus statue up.

2:40 Speaker 2 Oh yes, God willing, I hope that happens. And I think that this support by the president it shows nationally, not just our great New Yorkers, but it shows nationally that he believes in supporting Christopher Columbus and and the great accomplishments and contributions that he made. You know, at the statue at Columbus Circle, it states that to the

3:10 world he gave a world, So he did, you know, for whatever you want to believe that of the negative comments that are made about him, which are which are untrue, it’s it’s a wonderful gesture of support that the president is given. In the Tanamery community is extremely grateful for what the president has done.

3:31 Speaker 1 Well, thank you so much for coming on and Angela Bevlo whatever you need. You know, we support your tank community like other communities. But thank you so much.

3:43 Speaker 2 Thank you, God bless you John and Uh it’s a pleasure to be on