St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1918-05-25
AMERICANS
PRESENT FLAG OF
THEIR NATIVE LAND
Ceremony on Court Square Preceded
by Grand Procession Around
opeiousas Streets
ITALY CIVILIZED BEFORE
OTHER ALLIED NATIONS
The Music and Speeches Denoted the
Loyalty of Transplanted Citizen
ship to Uncle Sam and stars
and Stripes
OF all the foreigners who have come

and Stripes
OF all the foreigners who have come
to our shores, here to make a home
and earn livelihood from factory anC
soil, none have been more patriotic
and loyal to the country of their adop
tion than the sons and daughters ot
sunny Italy, successor to the once for.
midab1e Roman Empire where the
Caesars sat on the throne and ruled
the then civilized world.
Italy has been almost the very foun
tain head of civilization, culture and
learning and in her magnificent pal
aces and stately piles have been born
an art and music which had charmed
the entire world From the brains
Of her great men have been handed
down to the generations that have fol
lowed the sesence of Jurisprudence
and-the breath of chivalry.
Here In old Opelousas but an in.
FAINT as compared with the hoary an.
tiquity Of Italy and of Rome-there
dwell some of these patriotic sons of
sunny Italy and their children who
first saw the light Of day beneath the
Stars and Stripes. They are now all
citizens Of this great republic, and
while absolutely loyal to their adont
ed country, still about them and with
in their hearts Of hearts there fingers
love for the old home beyond the
seas.
One will find this Characteristic
common among the sons and daugh-
tiers of Italy who have come to our
American shores and each and every
one of them delight in showing their
fealty to the land of their adoption.
Friday afternoon the Italian colony
Of Opelousas, which, be it said, num-
bers in its ranks some our best cit
izenship, arranged and carried through
a patriotic program which was fit
ting close for the big Red Cross
drive now almost at an end.
The celebration was for the purpose
of the presentation of the flag OF
Italy, that symbol OF freedom and de-
mocracy, to the city of Opelousas and
the parish of st Landry. The parade
itself was an imposing one and was
headed by Pascal DelBuono, the Mes
tor Of the Italian colony here, with
Charles Carlo, father of large and
industrious family Walking with
them was His Honor Mayor Halphen.
Little Misses Yvonne Marsiglia, Cecile
Lupo, Annie Falinno and Mathilde
Corti and Mike Bone carried the
United States flag, while Charles Fa-
zinno bore aloft the colors of Italy
When the procession halted at the
court house square where it stopped
for the purpose of the floral ceremon-
les. Hon. Dudley L. Guilbeau, native
and patriotic American but de-
scendant Of the Gallo race, was chair
man. The speakers were Representa-
tive E. K. Eastman, just back from
the legislative session for the week
end with home folks. and Frank Gar
bo and Mayor Halphen. The italian
committee, appointed to arrange the
affair, was composed of Messrs. Chas.
Garbo, Tony Marsiglia, John Navl
Charles Fazinno, r, DelBuono, Mateo
LaNasa, Frank Garbo, John Nicko and
Mike Mandina
In opening the meeting Mr.. Gull
beau designated Italy as the mother
Of civilization, theAreasure house Of
art, literature, sculpture, painting and
the donor OF laws to the civilized
world.
Mr.. Frank Garbo's speech which
was handed The Clarion, win be pub
lished in full next week
Mayor Halphen, in accepting the
gift o. the Italian flag to the city Of
Opelousas and the parish of 81. Lam
dry, stated that he felt confident that
both Italy and the Italians were loyal
to the cause of world democracy.
Representative Eastman said that
the Italian Americans had every rea-
SON to be proud of Italy, the land OF
sunshine and flowers, the land that
was civilized when France and Eng
land and the Huns, the latter who are
still barbarians we're wrapt in ignor-
ance and barbarianism. He recounted