Parade Marked Italy's Entrance In WWI Submitted by Larie Tedesco Sun Herald, The March 20, 2005 Page G3 ************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Some families originally from New Orleans When President Wilson urged the country to observe May 24, 1918, in commemoration of Italy's entrance into World War I, Biloxi's Italian-American community and city officials responded with a huge parade. Spearheading committee members included J.B. Tucci, S. Tedesco, Nick, Bartlo, Joe and Tony Mattina, John Bertucci, Joe Randazzo, Tom Esposito, John Fallo, V. D. di Gregori, Joe Corso and Lawrence Renfro. The parade included nine floats, upon which were seated young Italian-American ladies dressed in the national colors of Italy and of her allies. Hundreds cheered as Italians from Biloxi and other Coast cities followed the floats on foot. The parade ended at Federal Building (present day City Hall), where the Italian- American Society presented a new Italian flag to the city. --Write to Murella H. Powell at Biloxi Public Library, 139 Lameuse St., Biloxi, MS 39530; or call her at 374-0330. Photographs will be returned. Caption: PHOTO COURTESY OF MARY E.TUCCI MABRY Members of the Biloxi American Red Cross march east on Howard Avenue, between Delaunay (George Ohr Street) and Lameuse Street, in the 1918 Italian Day parade.