The ANNOTICO Report

While others are predicting doom and gloom for Italian and Italian American
Pride, one constantly keeps coming across stories like that below,  where
current Italian Americans engage in a variety of  projects to insure the
memories of their Italian immigrant ancestors.

Here in Port Arthur Texas, they relocate an Italian American Immigrant Wall
to a more desirable location, where
it can more easily admired.

The News
By Courtney Rogers
The News Staff Writer
July 26,2005

Photo: Brian Vincent/Port Arthur News The Rev. Stephen McCrate sprinkles
holy water over the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Immigrant Wall of Honor
Tuesday.

Sweat and tears were shed Tuesday afternoon by approximately 30 proud local
Italian-Americans as the Immigrant Wall of Honor was rededicated at the
Port Arthur Public Library.

The wall, baring the names of past and present Italian-Amercians, serves as
a memorial for the Italian immigrants who traveled to Port Arthur in the
early 1900s.

The event began with a blessing and sprinkling of holy water from the Rev.
Stephen McCrate, pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church and club chaplain.

After the nearly 30 participants finished making the sign of the cross,
Frank Fontana, the former President of the Italian-American Cultural Club
of Southeast Texas, cut the ribbon for the new wall.

"It has taken nearly six months to get this new area for the wall built,"
Fontana said.

Due to the amount of rain followed by a drought early this year, the 3,000
pound wall was never able to be removed and transferred to the new location.

Participants of the event soon retreated from the heat to the cool inside
of the library, where they were seated for cake, punch, memories and final
words on the wall.

"This is a symbol that will be here for generations to come," Pete Anselmo,
chairman of the relocation committee said. "And I hope that the next
generation of Italian-Americans in this community will enjoy it as much as
we have today."

Chances are the next generation will enjoy the Immigrant Wall and its new
location at the back corner of the library.

The past location, Immigrant Park next to the "Bob Bowers" Civic Center,
was hard to find, and once visitors found it, few wanted to wander there
alone.

"This new location of the Immigrant Wall looks beautiful," Mary Colletti,
Port Arthur resident, said. "The wall itself is something to be very proud
of."

All participants of the rededication were beaming with pride for the
hour-long program and couldn't seem happier about the new location of the
Immigrant Wall.