Article is courtesy of Amy Lee Caimano, SC Licensed Real Estate Sales Agent. Amy is a member of the Italian-American Club of Hilton Head Island with a mission to help those who are less fortunate and need charitable assistance.
I don’t know about you, but when I hear that a person that I know has passed away, the first thing I do is reminisce and think deeply about that person.
I like to remember the positive things about that person & how they impacted my life & the lives of those around them. I personally pray for their spirit & thank God for their presence in my life. The next thing I do is try to think of a way or ways that I can best honor & acknowledge that person. It’s hard to think that a person, once gone from this life, does not get a special memorial or summary of their value & contributions they made to our world.
Carmen DeCecco, a dear friend of mine passed away recently, she was a talented & accomplished writer & had a sweet, creative & inquiring mind. Among her writings, she frequently wrote articles on behalf of the Italian American Club of Hilton Head, about our club & also promoting some of the club’s activities that benefit our community. As we approach the upcoming 14th Annual Italian Heritage Festival, to say we will miss Carmen articles is an understatement, she wrote with a personal flair and upbeat style that was a pleasure to read. Carmen’s beautiful smile, attitude & support of the club & her husband, Johnny DeCecco (the club President) will create a void that simply cannot be replaced.
I do not even pretend to be a writer, journalist or even blogger, so to honor Carmen, I have compiled some of Carmen’s original words from her articles about the festival, I hope you enjoy them – We look forward to seeing you at this year’s Italian Heritage Festival, Saturday October 19th, 2024 at Honey Horn -11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Celebrating the rich, colorful, Italian culture, and cuisine, while supporting local charities and scholarships, the Festival offers something to please everyone.
This includes an inflatable kids’ zone, local arts and crafts vendors, a silent auction, and live entertainment by the Hilton Head Plantation Big Band and, back by popular demand, the grape-stomping, and pizza-eating contests, raffles, and much more!
Food booths will line the Honey Horn pathways, with local restaurants serving up portions of their signature dishes.
A number of booths will be dedicated to traditional Italian foods, such as cheeses, breads, pasta, fish, meatballs, sausage and calzones, and delicious sweets, including Italian ice, gelato, biscotti and zeppolis – many sponsored by local restaurants. We offer a silent auction featuring an extensive selection of gift certificates to golf foursomes at our world-famous courses, area restaurants, boat cruises, spa visits, and of course, gift baskets, and a wide range of crafts, gifts, and art works on which to bid.
“Italians are all about food and family, and that is what we are doing with this festival while at the same time raising money for local charities,” said event chairman Paul Caimano, who expects a crowd of about 4,000+ this year.
This year, you can see a Legio XIII Cemina historical reenactment at the fourteenth annual Italian Heritage Festival presented by the IACHH, October 19th at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn. The Brothers Brennan will recreate Roman drills, routines, and games at their own encampment for festival attendees. Everyone is welcome for a day of games, entertainment, crafts, food and a HUGE silent auction.
Tickets for this years festival are $8.00 general admission, children 10 & under are free. Free parking. Tickets are available at the gate or online : www.iachh.org/italian-heritage-festival.
The IACHH is a non-profit service organization, 501(c ) (3), promoting Italian heritage/culture, while raising and distributing funds to local scholarships and charitable organization in the Hilton Head Island and Bluffton areas of South Carolina.
All content above originally written by Carmen Hawkins DeCecco- (with date adjustments as needed) shared with permission from her husband John DeCecco. Carmen was a local resident of Hilton Head Island from the year 1977 – where she enjoyed (in her own words) – Smooching with Sam (my beagle) who predeceased her, training Johnny D (my husband). I also enjoy reading (anything and everything), bicycling, swimming and yoga. I’m fortunate that I love my work, so when I’m not writing for money, I write for enjoyment.
