Italian pride flies high for Greenwich couple

John and Sharon Vecchiolla, beside their granddaughter Kate Salomon, 6, are honored during the St. Lawrence Society's Columbus Day Flag-Raising at Town Hall in Greenwich, Conn. Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. The 31st annual flag-raising honored decades-long town service members John and Sharon Vecchiolla, followed by an awards presentation and dinner at the St. Lawrence Club. less John and Sharon Vecchiolla, beside their granddaughter Kate Salomon, 6, are honored during the St. Lawrence Society's Columbus Day Flag-Raising at Town Hall in Greenwich, Conn. Monday, Oct. 8, 2018. The 31st ... more Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Italian pride flies high for Greenwich couple 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

GREENWICH — For more than 30 years, the St. Lawrence Society has honored one prominent citizen of Italian descent who then helps to raise the flags outside Greenwich Town Hall on Columbus Day.

But some traditions are meant to be changed.

For the first time, the St. Lawrence Society on Monday honored two Greenwich residents, John and Sharon Vecchiolla, who shared the honor of raising both the Italian and American flags. She is a former town registrar of voters, and he is a current member of the town’s Planning and Zoning Board of Appeals and a past member of the Board of Education. Both have volunteered in the town for decades.

“It’s an extremely nice honor. I’m not a person who likes to be recognized usually, but it does say something about my heritage,” said John Vecchiolla, who is also an attorney.

“This was a total surprise to me, and it’s nice to be honored,” Sharon Vecchiolla said.

The Vecchiollas were joined at the ceremony by their daughter Michelle Vecchiolla Salomon and their 6-year-old granddaughter, Kate. That meant some time out of school for both: Kate attends Julian Curtiss School, where Michelle is a teacher.

“It’s so beautiful to see this,” Vecchiolla Salomon said. “They’ve given so much over the years. To watch them be role models for our family and for my daughter is so wonderful.”

Tod Laudonia, president of the St. Lawrence Society, reminded the crowd that many Italian immigrants have settled in Greenwich over the years, building a community and a rich heritage in town.

“We all need to remember the sacrifices our ancestors made coming here,” Laudonia said. “They didn’t have the communication benefits that we do today. But they came and assimilated into our American society, and I think they set a great example for all of us. Today, we honor those Italian ancestors. And this team of two raising both the Italian and American flags here at Town Hall emphasizes that spirit of cooperation and communication.”

Despite overcast sky and light rain, nearly 50 people turned out for the flag-raising. Laudonia said the mission of the St. Lawrence Society had “grown and changed around us.” It was once made up of 124 people from a town in Calabria, Italy, and now is there to help everyone in the community.

“We are an inclusive organization, and we want to reach out to everyone and have everyone participate,” Laudonia said.

Monday’s ceremony was also attended by U.S. Rep. Jim Himes; Greenwich First Selectman Peter Tesei; state Reps. Livvy Floren and Fred Camillo; and several past honorees, including Town Clerk Carmella Budkins, Linda Mosier and Renato Berzolla.

“This is a red letter day on the Greenwich calendar,” Himes said. “It really speaks to the incredible strength and cultural heritage that is the Italian community here in Greenwich. And this was extra special, of course, because of the honoring of Sharon and John Vecchiolla. It’s hard to think of a couple and a family that have done more for our town.”

A proclamation was prepared declaring Oct. 8 as Sharon and John Vecchiolla Day in town. Both have been honored in this way previously as individuals, and Tesei joked that they would have to share the honors this time.

“These are two individuals who really epitomize the strengths of the Greenwich community through faith and their family and giving back to the community through John’s service on many, many levels and Sharon, of course, for being an indomitable presence here in the registrar’s office for 24 years,” Tesei said.

The decision to honor the Vecchiollas was planned by her former colleague, Fred DeCaro III. The two worked together for many years, he as the Republican registrar of voters and she as the Democratic registrar.

DeCaro said he was excited to see it happen because “I think the world of Sharon and John.”

kborsuk@greenwichtime.com