Whereas, on October 12, 1492, Christopher Columbus was the first of many Italians to chart a course for the New World and to exchange with its peoples a wealth of skills and experience; Whereas through Christopher Columbus’s difficult journey across the Atlantic, this Son of Italy demonstrated for all posterity the power of faith, courage, and individual initiative; Whereas Christopher Columbus could never have foreseen the multicultural, multiracial Nation that would ultimately emerge in the New World he helped to discover; Whereas the willingness of Christopher Columbus to sacrifice the comfort of his home to pursue the unknown has inspired generations of daring explorers; Whereas through the years, Americans have followed in the spirit of Christopher Columbus through exploration of land, sea, and space; Whereas Christopher Columbus continues to be a symbol of American individualism and progress; Whereas Christopher Columbus has been honored and celebrated throughout the history of the United States; Whereas, on October 12, 1792, the New York society of Tammany, known also as the Columbian Order, celebrated the third centenary of the historic voyage of Christopher Columbus with a dinner and elaborate ceremonies; Whereas the first permanent monument to Christopher Columbus in the United States was erected in 1810 in Baltimore by one of Lafayette’s former officers; Whereas in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison issued a Presidential proclamation on the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus' first voyage, describing Columbus as the pioneer of progress and enlightenment ; Whereas President Benjamin Harrison urged citizen participation in commemorative services, and the organization of programs by schools; Whereas the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which opened in 1893, was the national celebration of the 400th anniversary to honor Christopher Columbus