Our Free Lecture On Richmond’s Columbus Statue Restoration

February 28th

The reclamation and restoration of Richmond’s Columbus statue, erected in 1926 in Byrd Park, is the subject of a free lecture by John Corritone, of the Italian-American Cultural Association of Virginia. The talk is scheduled for Friday, February 28, at 6:30 pm at St. George’s Church, 905 Princess Anne Street, George Street entrance. The Fredericksburg-Este Association, the Italian sister city group, sponsors the program. Light refreshments will be served at 6:30; the lecture begins at 7. The program is free; donations are welcome.

In May 2020, during the national wave of George Floyd riots, Richmond’s Christopher Columbus statue was defaced, graffitied, and ripped from its podium. Finally it was thrown into a small lake in Byrd Park, where it had stood since 1926. The statue was recovered from the lake and stored in a secure place.

In 2022, the sculpture was given to the Italian American Cultural Association of Virginia. John Corritone, a member, headed the effort to restore the work and find a place for Columbus to be given a permanent home. Corritone successfully headed up the fundraising effort for the project, which he also directed.

Corritone called on famed Richmond sculptor, Paul Dipasquale, creator of Richmond’s Arthur Ashe sculpture and King Neptune in Virginia Beach, who oversaw the project and repaired the statue. Finally, in September 2024, the project was completed with the installation of Columbus at the Rockland County Order of the Sons of Italy Lodge in Blauvelt, New York, just north of the City.

Corritone will recount the process of the statue’s restoration. He will be joined by Paul Dipasquale, the sculptor, who will speak about the role that statues and monuments play in contemporary society.

March 7, 2025

The Italian-American Cultural Association of VA

10307 West Broad Street

Glen Allen, VA 23060

Ms. Kathryn Willis

President

Fredericksburg-Este Association

P.O. Box 157

Fredericksburg, VA 22404

Dear Kathryn,

On behalf of The Italian-American Cultural Association of VA,  I want to express my sincere thanks to you, Odile Pryor, Jacklyn Boice, Association members and guests, for the hospitality and friendliness presented to me, Paul DiPasquale and IACA members in attendance at the lecture.

IACA also appreciates the Fredericksburg-Este Association's generous donation of $100.00 that will be used for IACA's Christopher Columbus Fund. The fund will help support immigrant individuals and families assimilating into society to assist them toward legal citizenship in this country.

I will keep you and the Fredericksburg-Este Association informed of the progress that our organization makes of our objective in this matter.

Thank you again.

 Sincerely,

 John Corritone

Committee Chair, Christopher Columbus Fund

Corresponding Secretary

The Italian-American Cultural Association of VA

Cc: Rick Gentile, President IACA

       Paul DiPasquale