Italian pride celebrated in Springfield's South End

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Many of the Italian Americans who gathered at Main and Locust Streets Monday morning grew up in the South End, in the shadow of Springfield’s Christopher Columbus monument.

The Italian Cultural Center organized the event Monday, where they presented the Italian flag that will be raised over Springfield City Hall in time for Columbus Day next week.

The people who came to the ceremony told 22News how proud they are to be Italian.

“We're proud of our heritage,” Lorraine Serra of Springfield said. “They (Italians) did so much for the city of Springfield. They did so much for the world.”

“My grandfather was born in Italy, so when we come to this time of the year to celebrate Italian heritage, It's a very proud time for our family,” Frank Forestiere of Agawam said.

For years, the Italian Cultural Center has played an important role celebrating the Italian influence in the city and the country. Monday’s was just one of a series of events all leading up to next week's Columbus Day observance.