Cook County Treasurer and Italian American Group Host Flag Raising
Cook County Treasurer and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans held a flag raising ceremony ahead of the annual Columbus Day Parade in Chicago. The event welcomed a delegation from Italy and celebrated Italian American heritage.
Cook County Treasurer and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) participated in a flag raising ceremony at Daley Plaza in Chicago on Friday, October 9, 2026. The event served as a prelude to the 74th annual Columbus Day Parade scheduled for Monday.
A special delegation from Campagna, Italy, was welcomed during the ceremony. Following the flag raising, a reception was held at the Treasurer's Office. Guests were entertained by a performance from tenor Eros Lombardo. Treasurer Pappas also presented Certificates of Excellence to Italian civic and religious leaders from the region.
Treasurer Pappas highlighted the significance of the Italian American community in the area. "More than 600,000 Italian Americans in Chicagoland have helped make Cook County and its surrounding areas one of the largest Italian population centers in the world," Pappas stated. He expressed his honor in recognizing the community's proud tradition.
The event also featured over 30 young people from the Campagna Youth Orchestra, who provided musical performances. The delegation included various political and civic leaders from the Campagna region.