First Selectman Camillo Serves As St. Roch's Grand Marshal

Greenwich CT

18 August, 2021

4:21 PM

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GREENWICH, CT — First Selectman Fred Camillo has fond memories of going to the St. Roch's annual feast in Chickahominy as a kid. Camilo's grandmother used to work at the feast, and she helped make the famous pizza fritta that everyone looks forward to each summer. Other relatives of Camillo's also volunteered over the years. "I remember going there, and no matter who took me, at the end of the night you'd go over and there'd be some pizza waiting for you. You'd go with your friends, and my grandmother made sure everyone had pizza and everybody was set," Camillo said. Fast forward to 2021, and Camillo found himself as Grand Marshal of the feast's procession, something he called "an honor" and a moment he won't soon forget. This year's event was held from Aug. 11-14, and culminated on Sunday with the procession through the streets of Chickahominy, where parishioners carried a statue of San Rocco. The Feast celebrates San Rocco (St. Roch), the patron saint of infectious diseases and of dogs, and helps raise money for the St. Roch's church. "For the past 17 months, the world has experienced the worst pandemic in over 100 years. People all over the globe have prayed to San Rocco, though now with even more meaning over the past year and a half," Camillo said in a news release. "Also, as a dog lover, the remarkable story of how a starved, suffering, and lonely man was brought food each day by a stray dog, who not only stayed with him, but healed his wounds by licking the future saint — It is symbolic of the bond between man and dog that has endured for centuries before and after the life of St. Roch." Camillo told Patch that as a kid, he didn't think much of the story behind the feast. But as he got older, he wanted to learn more. "It's really a throwback to what they do in the old country in Italy," Camillo said. The event was scaled back in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but returned this year with more normalcy. Camillo said the celebration was extra important for the community. "You really don't want to have two summers in a row going by where things are being cancelled if you can help it. I do really appreciate the effort that was put in last year and the effort put in this year to make sure people had some normalcy back in their lives," Camillo said. "It was a great time for all, and for a worthy cause for the St. Roch's parish."