The annual flag-raising at Boston City Hall for Italian Heritage Month was a quiet affair this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The reading of the State proclamation was made to an empty plaza. Video commentary was instead submitted by Governor Charlie Baker, Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Mayor Marty Walsh, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Speaker Robert DeLeo, Sen. Joe Boncore, Sen. Sal DiDomenico, Rep. Adrian Madaro, Councilor Lydia Edwards and members of the IHM committee. View the above video of the flag raising followed by the dignitary commentaries.

Philip Frattaroli reflects on the occasion, “Italian Heritage Month in Massachusetts started with a conversation my father Filippo had with his friend Paul Cellucci in 1999. The first flag-raising was five years ago when I received a call from then City Councilor Salvatore LaMattina asking if I had a flag that could be used for the first-ever Italian flag raising at Boston City Hall.