Newtown’s Non-Holiday Weekend

To the Editor:

When is a holiday weekend actually not a holiday weekend? When it is Columbus Day weekend in Newtown. In the aftermath of Irene landing, just prior to the Labor Day holiday weekend, leaving our town stressed and without power for days, the prudent decision was made to postpone the Annual Newtown Labor Day Parade. An equally prudent decision was made to move the parade to the Columbus Day holiday weekend.

Makes sense! Use a holiday Monday for the parade! Problem! There is no holiday Monday surrounding Columbus Day in Newtown, CT. In fact, the Columbus Day holiday is ignored as schools are in session and things operate “per norm” on Columbus Day.

Columbus Day is still a holiday elsewhere. That parade in NYC was held ... on Monday of the “holiday” weekend. No parade on “Columbus Day” in Newtown, however! It took some time for me to realize when the Labor Day Parade was rescheduled, that it would be on the Sunday of the “unrecognized” Columbus Day holiday weekend.

Agree or not  with the merits of Columbus, the tradition of the holiday is spurned by Newtown, as is the recognition and honor of an entire culture in America, that being, Italian-Americans. Oh, and yes, my mother was Italian!

Ciao,

Richard English

3 Curry Drive, Newtown                                        October 10, 2011