Columbus Day

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Virginia Storage (left), Virginia vice regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution, with Anne Schaeffer (center) and Mary Lib Schmidt of the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution, sing during a Columbus Day celebration and wreath presentation at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Mary Lib Schmidt (right) and Anne Schaeffer carry a wreath from the National Society of the Children of the American Revolution during a Columbus Day celebration and wreath presentation at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Col. Thomas J. Hogan, head of the National Columbus Celebration Association, leads a Columbus Day celebration and wreath presentation as protesters shout and wave signs in the background at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Jesus Maria Rodriguez-Andia, general consul of Spain, speaks during a Columbus Day celebration and wreath presentation at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Protesters hold signs condemning the version of American history that paints Christopher Columbus in a glowing light during a Columbus Day celebration and wreath presentation at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Protesters hold signs condemning the version of American history that paints Christopher Columbus in a glowing light during a Columbus Day celebration and wreath presentation at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Protesters hold signs condemning the version of American history that paints Christopher Columbus in a glowing light during a Columbus Day celebration and wreath presentation at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Mary Ann T. Wright (center), president general of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, presents a wreath before the Columbus Memorial statue during a Columbus Day celebration at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Representatives from the Italian Embassy present a wreath before the Columbus Memorial statue during a Columbus Day celebration and wreath presentation at Union Station in Washington on Monday, Oct. 10, 2011. (T.J. Kirkpatrick/The Washington Times)

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Former Obama White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel shakes hands Oct. 11 along the route of Chicago's Columbus Day parade as he prepares to run to replace outgoing Mayor Richard M. Daley. (Associated Press)