Senator Thompson Secures Funding For Statue Of David Plaque

For Immediate Release
Contact: Heather Zeisz | zeisz@senate.state.ny.us | 716.854.8705

Buffalo, NY- New York State Senator Antoine M. Thompson will be holding a plaque dedication ceremony for the Statue of David along with Mayor Byron Brown and the Federation of Italian-American Societies of WNY.  The plaque dedication will be held today, September 8, 2009 at the base of the David Statue in Delaware Park at 4:30 pm.  A reception with refreshments will immediately follow at the Marcy Casino on Hoyt Lake in Delaware Park.

“I am pleased that I was able to secure funding for the new plaque on the Statue of David so that it reflects the accurate information,” stated Senator Thompson. 

The statue of David in Delaware Park is one of only two bronze casts from the original statue in Italy.  The Federation has worked to create a bronze plaque with the spelling of the statue's creator spelled correctly in Italian "Michelangelo" and not "Michael Angelo" as it currently stands. His dates of birth and death were also incorrect on the plaque and will be changed from 1474 to 1475.  The plaque will cover the current lettering on the base. There will be no removal of existing lettering.

“This has been a long standing issue in the Italian-American community and we celebrate this event and thank Mayor Byron Brown for his great support, and Senator Antoine Thompson who secured the funding for the plaque,” said Peter Lojacono, President Federation of Italian-American Societies of WNY.

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