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WHEREAS, Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month was first celebrated in 1989 when it was proclaimed by both Congress and President George H. W. Bush to honor the achievements and contributions of Italian immigrants and their descendants living in the United States; and,
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WHEREAS, between 1820 and 2000, over 5 million Italians immigrated to the United States and around 1890s, Italian immigrants began to settle in neighborhoods such as Oakland, East Liberty, the Lower Hill District, and Bloomfield; and,
WHEREAS, Italian cuisine was embraced in Pittsburgh, some being identified with this city such as the Primanti Brothers’ concoction of meat, coleslaw and French fries stacked between two slices of Mancini’s bread, which is another Italian-Pittsburgh staple; and,
WHEREAS, there are now over 26 million Americans of Italian descent residing in the United State, and each year Italians in Pittsburgh and around the country take time to celebrate their heritage, history, and culture with festivals and parades; and,
WHEREAS, the Italians in Pittsburgh express their pride within the Nationality Rooms in the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning where the Italian Room was dedicated in 1949 and is adorned with a gold rosette embellished ceiling, along with an architrave engraved with names of Italian geniuses such as Botticelli, Galileo, Verdi, and Marconi; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize our Italian-American citizens and honor the achievements of Italian-Americans throughout our country; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare the Month of October, 2020 to be “Italian-American Heritage and Culture Month” in the City of Pittsburgh.