UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Although Columbus Day isn't until Monday, The Sons of Italy in Utica is celebrating early.

Sunday afternoon, the group gathered at the Christopher Columbus Monument on the Memorial Parkway, in Utica to lay a wreath.

In October of 1492 Columbus landed in the Americas.

The Sons of Italy lay their wreath annually as a way to pay tribute to the man who has done so much for this country.

Sons of Italy member Pasquale Santacroce says "We honor Christopher Columbus today for not only the man that he was, but what made the man, which is the Italian culture. The Italian culture consists of only three words, love, respect and ambition."

The local Italians say because of Christopher Columbus's ambition, we have what we have today.