Italian flags are flying over Rome and Utica in honor of Italian Heritage Month. The Italian Heritage Club of the Mohawk Valley raised flags outside both city halls this week, Utica’s on Monday and Rome’s on Tuesday. There were also wreath-laying ceremonies at St. Agnes Cemetery in Utica and St. John’s Cemetery in Rome to honor the early Italian immigrants in the area.

One of the wreaths was in honor of Cecilia Rapetti Kernan, one of the first Italians to settle in Utica. “She helped to teach them the English language, helped them with other kinds of needs they might have and also helped to establish together with the bishop at that time St. Mary Mount Caramel Church so that Italian American community had their own parish,” said Joann Cavo Campbell, of the heritage club.