IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – September 20, 2026 – Injustice Unifies 1892 Italians in Connecticut
Italian immigrants in the late nineteenth century based their cultural identities on their paese, or little village, they left behind in Italy. They thought of themselves not simply as Italians, but as Neapolitans, Sicilians, Calabrians, or wherever they came from in their homeland. No matter where these new immigrants originated, events in America began to forge them into a new Italian American identity. The hostility and discrimination directed at Italian immigrants in America from the newly formed Kingdom of Italy created a shared experience in the United States.
Right here in Connecticut, news of violence against Italians in other locations in the country resonated deeply within the Wooster Square neighborhood of New Haven, sometimes referred to as little Naples. The lynchings of eleven Italians in New Orleans in 1891 ignited Italian immigrants from different towns in Italy to unite under the umbrella called United Italian Societies. After a meeting of Italian community leaders took place in 1891, plans were developed to not only respond to the New Orleans lynchings that created an international diplomatic crisis between the United States and Italy, but also the discrimination and injustice that Italians faced every day of their lives in Connecticut.
New Haven's Italian community responded not only with protest, but with public participation and activism. These united Italians responded to the events in New Orleans by organizing an extraordinary Columbus Day celebration in 1892 involving Italian societies from throughout Connecticut and financing the creation of the Columbus monument in Wooster Square. The monument was more than a statue honoring the great Italian explorer; it represented the ability of Italian immigrants, many of whom had arrived with strong regional identities, to come together around a shared heritage and publicly created a bond between immigrants and their adopted country.
Read “Italians and Blacks in New Haven: The Establishment of Two Ethnic Communities” by Alice Mick and Lula White to learn more about how Italian immigrants in 1892 responded to the March 14, 1891 lynchings of eleven Italians in New Orleans by financing and dedicating a Christopher Columbus monument a year later, which united Italians in Connecticut.
This Week in Italian American History
September 21, 1924 — Italy opens what is generally recognized as the world's first modern motorway, the Milano–Varese autostrada, designed by engineer Piero Puricelli.
September 22, 1903 — Italo Marchioni files his ice-cream-cup patent application making edible ice-cream cups, a precursor to the modern ice cream cone.
September 23, 63 BC — Gaius Octavius, later known as Augustus Caesar, was born on September 23, 63 BC. He became Rome's first emperor, ruling from 27 BC until his death in AD 14, marking the beginning of the Roman Empire.
September 23, 1943 — During the German occupation of Italy, Vice Brigadier Salvo D'Acquisto of the Carabinieri was executed after offering himself in place of 22 innocent hostages. Italy later awarded him the Gold Medal of Military Valor.
September 24, 1501 — Renaissance mathematician, physician and philosopher Gerolamo Cardano was born in Pavia. His Ars Magna (1545) became a landmark work in algebra and included the solution of the cubic equation as well as the solution of the quartic equation developed by his student Lodovico Ferrari.
September 25, 1896 — Born on this date, Alessandro "Sandro" Pertini eventually became Italy's seventh president. He was born at Stella in Liguria. He became a prominent anti-Fascist.
September 25, 1917 — Italian-American baseball legend Phil Rizzuto was born on this date in Brooklyn. Phil "The Scooter" Rizzuto had family roots in Calabria. He became a star shortstop for the New York Yankees, winning the 1950 American League MVP Award, and was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. He later became a successful broadcaster.
September 26, 1986 — Antonin Scalia, the son of Italian immigrants, took the oath of office as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court on September 26, 1986. He had been confirmed by the Senate 98–0 and served on the Court until his death in 2016.
September 26, 1997 — A powerful earthquake struck central Italy, severely damaging the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Parts of the basilica's frescoes collapsed, which led to a major restoration effort.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
Basil Russo Leads Historic Summit Between Italian American Leaders and Pope Leo XIV
The COPOMIAO Delegation held a meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Italy, an exclusive conference with Cardinal Parolin, and high-level talks with Italian leaders in courts and the parliament.
The Italian American Connection Index 2026
We the Italians is launching a survey about a question for the future of the Italian American community: how strong is its connection with Italy today? Take the survey by clicking the link above.
Italian Fest crowd weighs in on Columbus monument debate
Festival goers give their opinion about reimagining the space where Syracuse’s Columbus monument continues to stand today.
I'm an American mom raising 2 kids in Italy. Parenting here is completely different.
“Over the years, I've noticed that children in Italy seem to have more freedom, and their parents are less likely to monitor their every move.” - Caroline Chirichella
Italian American Events
Norwalk, Connecticut – San Gennaro Festival
September 26, 2026 – Come for food and music from 12 – 7PM at All Saints Catholic School, located at 139 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT. The rain date is 9/27. Go to this All Saints School website for more information.
Rocky Hill, Connecticut – Italian Festival
October 3rd & 4th. - The ItaliAmerica Annual Festa takes place at Elm Ridge Park in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, on Saturday, October 3, and Sunday, October 4, 2026. Presented by Connecticut Mason Contractors, Inc. and organized by the Italian American Historical Society of Connecticut, Inc., this family-friendly, free-admission cultural celebration features a vibrant selection of authentic food trucks, local retail vendors, and cultural activities. Attendees can enjoy live music and entertainment on the main stage throughout the weekend, including a Saturday evening performance by Diva and the Playboys. A fabulous Italian Culture Tent will be presented by The Italian American Historic Society of the Ethnic Center at SCSU.
Italian Language Classes
October 5th- Since 1981, the ICS Italian Language School has used a proven curriculum to help students speak and understand Italian in a fun, no-stress atmosphere. Registration is now open for the Fall 2026 Quarter, which begins the week of October 5, 2026. REGISTER HERE. FOR TEXTBOOKS, CLICK HERE. Go to www.italiancenter.net for more information.
New Britain, Connecticut – Columbus Day Ceremony
October 12th -There will be a Columbus Day ceremony at the statue in McCabe Park in New Britain on Monday, October 12th at 11:00 a.m. OSDIA’s New Britain lodge will host the event celebrating and honoring our immigrant ancestors and also our Italian American veterans. Representatives from the City of New Britain and other local Italian American organizations will participate in the ceremony.
Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Events
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klein – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
UNICO Stamford Italian Heritage Month in Connecticut
October 1st-31st; “Italian Contributions to the World” Exhibit; Main Lobby, Ferguson Library
October 2nd; Federazione Laziali d'America Wine Tasting Contest, 7pm (doors open 6:30) $10 at Italian Center of Stamford 1620 Newfield Ave
October 3rd; "Cooking with Maria from Columbus Park Trattoria" Cooking Demonstration, Ferguson Library, 11 am FREE, register On Ferguson website
October 11th; COLUMBUS DAY ITALIAN MASS, 10 AM, Sacred Heart Church
October 11th; FLAG RAISING AND COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATION, 11:30am, Columbus Park
October 16th; Italian Film Festival, “Life is Beautiful”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 17th, Children's Craft Event: Venetian Masks, Ferguson Library, Free 11 am. Register on Ferguson website
October 18th, Luigi Del Bianco, Chief Carver Mt. Rushmore Lecture, Ferguson Library, Free 2 pm
October 19th through October 23rd Italian Heritage Exhibit, CT State Community College Norwalk Lobby 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 20th; Viewing of Cinema Paradiso, 3pm CT State Community College Norwalk Theater, 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 23rd; Italian Film Festival, “Moonstruck”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 24th; “ Settefrati, Our Sister City” Harry Bennett Branch of Ferguson Library, FREE 2 pm – 3:30 pm
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage Night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
October 25th; Gardening Event (including growing tips, recipe and seed exchange) at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd. $20 museum “Fall Event” entrance fee, 10am – 1pm
Italian American Alliance Event
November 7th - The IAA & the AMICI Project present its 2026 fundraiser performance by renowned Italian Tenor Alberto Profeta direct from Sicily, music by Tino D’Agostino and his Band. Emcee Ross Zagami, Saturday, November 7, 2026, Watertown, MA Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge, 520 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, 6:00pm – 7:00pm Social Hour & Cash Bar, 7:00pm – Appetizers/Light Meal/Desserts/Coffee, 8:00pm – 10:00pm Performance. For more information or tickets, please contact: Marisa Di Pietro 617-650-3442 Marisadipietro65@gmail.com, or Florence Guidara 617-877-7285
American Italian Women of Greater New Haven
October 25th - Charity Benefit Luncheon at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven, Connecticut. Donations will benefit Halfway Home Rescue, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to saving the lives of abused, abandoned, and homeless animals. This Italian American Women of Distinction Awards luncheon will give all proceeds to the charity as the beneficiary.
Legal Fund
IADL has 219 members and 51 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
Paul Russo led efforts to erect the Columbus statue that stood in Wooster Square Park for 128 years.
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – September 13, 2026 – Columbus: Courage and Conviction
With Columbus Day just around the corner, it is time to rewatch the Knights of Columbus documentary, Christopher Columbus: Courage and Conviction. It is a worthwhile 28 minutes! The documentary starts with this text, “Those who remove statues or replace Columbus Day engage in the divisiveness that currently plagues our country and threatens national unity. My preference is to accentuate all the positive aspects of the great mosaic of America. . . “
The documentary, “offers insight into Christopher Columbus' remarkable journey, facts on the encounter of civilizations, details on the origins of Columbus Day and context behind the affinity many immigrants have for Columbus. Finally, the film addresses elements of cancel culture and currents that would prefer to rewrite history based on false accusations. Courage and Conviction shows why Christopher Columbus remains not only a man worthy of admiration, but a noble icon of what it means to be a Catholic and an American.” Many times, defenders of Columbus Day and monuments say they are advocating for the preservation of history and Italian heritage, not Columbus the person. This documentary is a starting point for understanding why Christopher Columbus is worthy of reverence and celebration.
This Week in Italian American History
September 13, 1961 - Dan Marino is born.
Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, whose paternal grandparents were Italian immigrants from Sicily, was born in Pittsburgh.
September 14, 1321 - Dante Alighieri dies.
Dante, author of The Divine Comedy, died in Ravenna.
September 14, 1784 - Vincenzo Lunardi brings balloon flight to England.
Italian Vincenzo Lunardi traveled approximately 25 miles from London toward Ware, Hertfordshire, igniting an interest in balloon travel in Europe.
September 15, 1904 - Umberto II is born.
Umberto II, the last king of Italy, was born in Racconigi, Piedmont. He was in power for only 34 days in 1946 before Italy ended the monarchy and became a republic.
September 15, 1919 - Fausto Coppi is born.
Legendary Italian cyclist Fausto Coppi was born in Castellania, Piedmont. He won the Giro d'Italia five times and the Tour de France twice.
September 17, 1931 - Anne Bancroft is born.
Actress Anne Bancroft was born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano in the Bronx. She won an Academy Award for The Miracle Worker.
September 18, 1940 - Frankie Avalon is born.
Frankie Avalon, born Francis Thomas Avallone in Philadelphia, became a teen idol and later starred in 1960s movies with Annette Funicello.
September 19, 1870 - Italian forces enter Rome.
Italian troops entered Rome after defeating the remaining Papal forces. This led to adding Rome into the Kingdom of Italy and the completion of Italian unification.
September 20, 1930 - Sophia Loren is born.
Sophia Loren was born Sofia Scicolone in Rome. She became one of the most internationally celebrated Italian actresses in history and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Two Women in 1962.
September 20, 1519 - Magellan begins his circumnavigation.
Among the expedition's crew was Antonio Pigafetta, the Italian scholar and navigator from Vicenza whose journals provided an account of the journey.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
Newport’s Italian heritage celebration runs Sept. 25 through Oct. 16
Includes a ziti night, two film screenings, a lawn festival, Columbus Day observances and a concert
A centuries-old Italian foundry casts bell for 9/11 firefighters and responders
The bell was unveiled and blessed at the New York City Fire Museum on Friday.
Borghese brings Italian skincare to Target nationwide
This Italian skincare company Borghese is increasing its reach by making its launch into America’s consumer market.
Italian American Events
Norwalk, Connecticut – San Gennaro Festival
September 26, 2026 – Come for food and music from 12 – 7PM at All Saints Catholic School, located at 139 West Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT. The rain date is 9/27. Go to this All Saints School website for more information.
Italian Language Classes
Since 1981, the ICS Italian Language School has used a proven curriculum to help students speak and understand Italian in a fun, no-stress atmosphere. Registration is now open for the Fall 2026 Quarter, which begins the week of October 5, 2026. REGISTER HERE. FOR TEXTBOOKS, CLICK HERE. Go to www.italiancenter.net for more information.
Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Events
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klein – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
UNICO Stamford Italian Heritage Month in Connecticut
October 1st-31st; “Italian Contributions to the World” Exhibit; Main Lobby, Ferguson Library
October 2nd; Federazione Laziali d'America Wine Tasting Contest, 7pm (doors open 6:30) $10 at Italian Center of Stamford 1620 Newfield Ave
October 3rd; "Cooking with Maria from Columbus Park Trattoria" Cooking Demonstration, Ferguson Library, 11 am FREE, register On Ferguson website
October 11th; COLUMBUS DAY ITALIAN MASS, 10 AM, Sacred Heart Church
October 11th; FLAG RAISING AND COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATION, 11:30am, Columbus Park
October 16th; Italian Film Festival, “Life is Beautiful”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 17th, Children's Craft Event: Venetian Masks, Ferguson Library, Free 11 am. Register on Ferguson website
October 18th, Luigi Del Bianco, Chief Carver Mt. Rushmore Lecture, Ferguson Library, Free 2 pm
October 19th through October 23rd Italian Heritage Exhibit, CT State Community College Norwalk Lobby 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 20th; Viewing of Cinema Paradiso, 3pm CT State Community College Norwalk Theater, 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 23rd; Italian Film Festival, “Moonstruck”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 24th; “ Settefrati, Our Sister City” Harry Bennett Branch of Ferguson Library, FREE 2 pm – 3:30 pm
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage Night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
October 25th; Gardening Event (including growing tips, recipe and seed exchange) at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd. $20 museum “Fall Event” entrance fee, 10am – 1pm
Italian American Alliance Event
The IAA & the AMICI Project present its 2026 fundraiser performance by renowned Italian Tenor Alberto Profeta Direct from Sicily, music by Tino D’Agostino and his Band
Emcee Ross Zagami, Saturday, November 7, 2026, Watertown, MA Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge, 520 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, 6:00pm – 7:00pm Social Hour & Cash Bar, 7:00pm – Appetizers/Light Meal/Desserts/Coffee, 8:00pm – 10:00pm Performance. For more information or tickets, please contact: Marisa Di Pietro 617-650-3442 Marisadipietro65@gmail.com, or Florence Guidara 617-877-7285
American Italian Women of Greater New Haven
October 25 - Charity Benefit Luncheon at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven, Connecticut. Donations will benefit Halfway Home Rescue, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to saving the lives of abused, abandoned, and homeless animals.
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 51 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – September 6, 2026 – Connecticut 9/11 Tribute Part II
We remember the names of Connecticut Italian Americans who paid the ultimate sacrifice during 9/11 not to list them as a statistic, but to remember them as fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, husbands, wives, friends, and members of our communities. Italian Americans became woven into the fabric of every aspect of life during the twentieth century in Connecticut, and on that tragic day they were in lower Manhattan fulfilling their responsibilities unaware that they would never return home. Though we recognize their heritage, we commemorate their sacrifice as Americans. These descendants of immigrants were the rescuers, first responders, workers, and professionals who exemplified courage and compassion on that day.
Joseph M. Calandrillo
Calandrillo was 49 and worked as an accountant for Reinsurance Solutions International/Marsh & McLennan. His family described him as exceptionally devoted to his wife.
Joseph John Coppo Jr.
Coppo was 47, a municipal-bond trader with Cantor Fitzgerald and a New Canaan resident. He coached hundreds of New Canaan children in youth sports.
Dolores Marie Costa
Costa was a vice president at Fred Alger Management who worked on the 93rd floor of One World Trade Center.
Paul Dario Curioli
Curioli was a Norwalk resident and assistant vice president with FM Global. He was at the World Trade Center for a meeting. He was a husband and father who spent his spare time woodworking and making birdhouses.
Paul M. Fiori
Fiori was 31 and is included by both AIVITER and Grand Voyage Italy, two sources used to compile this list.
John B. Fiorito
Fiorito was 40, worked as a broker for Cantor Fitzgerald and had a Stamford connection. He was devoted to his wife and his young son, who had battled leukemia.
Richard S. Gabrielle
Gabrielle, age 50, of West Haven, among the Italian-descent victims. He enjoyed driving his car at Lime Rock Park racetrack.
Stephen LaMantia
LaMantia was 38, a Darien resident and securities trader for Cantor Fitzgerald.
Gregory T. Spagnoletti
Varacchi was 35, lived in Greenwich and was the chief operating officer of Cantor Fitzgerald and president/COO of eSpeed. He was also a Hofstra alumnus.
Never forget 9/11. For remembrances of 161 men and women with ties to Connecticut, please visit Connecticut 9/11 Living Memorial at this website. Please contact IADL if you would like to share additional information.
This Week in Italian American History
September 9, 1943 - Operation Avalanche: Allied forces land at Salerno
The U.S. Fifth Army under Lt. Gen. Mark W. Clark landed at Salerno as part of Operation Avalanche, beginning the Allied invasion of mainland Italy. Italian American soldiers from Connecticut served in the Fifth Army, fighting in the countryside of their parents and grandparents.
September 10, 1895 - Italian Americans celebrate Italian unification in New Haven
On September 10, 1895, Italian organizations from New Haven, Hartford, Meriden and throughout Connecticut participated in a parade celebrating the 25th anniversary of the capture of Rome, the final major event in Italian unification. Groups participating included the Garibaldi Society, Concordia Society, Fratellanza Society, Queen Margherita Society, Victor Emmanuel Protective Society of Meriden, and Italian bands and Italian-language newspapers.
September 11, 2001 – Italian Americans sacrifice on 9/11
Research on Italian Americans and 9/11 has documented a significant number of Italian Americans among the firefighters, police officers, emergency workers and civilians who died. FDNY Chief Peter J. Ganci Jr. was among the highest-ranking fire officials killed at the World Trade Center. In response to the tragic attack, The National Italian American Foundation established a 9/11 educational fund for the children of firefighters, police officers, EMTs and other rescue workers who died. The fund was named in memory of Ganci. Some estimates show at least 69 of the 343 firefighters killed were of Italian descent, and the number could be more if mixed ancestry is considered. At least 10 Italian citizens were also among the victims.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
‘The Three Graces of Pearl Street’ is a succession drama about the ordinary but fierce Italian-American women who are overlooked in ‘The Godfather.’
Two Anniversaries, One Heart Articles: Italy’s role in America’s greatness
We the Italians explores the impact of the chief carver of Mount Rushmore, a cutting edge educator, the first American saint, the greatest tenor of all time, a baseball legend, and many more.
Antonelli 'disrupting rules of fandom' in Ferrari's Italy by Lorraine McKenna
Kimi Antonelli has been hailed as a generational talent in Formula 1; the driver who can end the 73-year wait for an Italian world champion.
AGBO’s latest feature film, The Whisper Man, premiered Friday on Netflix and surged to the platform’s no. 1 spot, marking another major release for the independent studio founded by Italian American filmmakers.
Italian-American Events
Italian Language Classes
Since 1981, the ICS Italian Language School has used a proven curriculum to help students speak and understand Italian in a fun, no-stress atmosphere. Registration is now open for the Fall 2026 Quarter, which begins the week of October 5, 2026. REGISTER HERE. FOR TEXTBOOKS, CLICK HERE. Go to www.italiancenter.net for more information.
Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Events
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klein – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
UNICO Stamford Italian Heritage Month in Connecticut
October 1st-31st; “Italian Contributions to the World” Exhibit; Main Lobby, Ferguson Library
October 2nd; Federazione Laziali d'America Wine Tasting Contest, 7pm (doors open 6:30) $10 at Italian Center of Stamford 1620 Newfield Ave
October 3rd; "Cooking with Maria from Columbus Park Trattoria" Cooking Demonstration, Ferguson Library, 11 am FREE, register On Ferguson website
October 11th; COLUMBUS DAY ITALIAN MASS, 10 AM, Sacred Heart Church
October 11th; FLAG RAISING AND COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATION, 11:30am, Columbus Park
October 16th; Italian Film Festival, “Life is Beautiful”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 17th, Children's Craft Event: Venetian Masks, Ferguson Library, Free 11 am. Register on Ferguson website
October 18th, Luigi Del Bianco, Chief Carver Mt. Rushmore Lecture, Ferguson Library, Free 2 pm
October 19th through October 23rd Italian Heritage Exhibit, CT State Community College Norwalk Lobby 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 20th; Viewing of Cinema Paradiso, 3pm CT State Community College Norwalk Theater, 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 23rd; Italian Film Festival, “Moonstruck”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 24th; “ Settefrati, Our Sister City” Harry Bennett Branch of Ferguson Library, FREE 2 pm – 3:30 pm
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage Night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
October 25th; Gardening Event (including growing tips, recipe and seed exchange) at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd. $20 museum “Fall Event” entrance fee, 10am – 1pm
Italian American Alliance Event
The IAA & the AMICI Project present its 2026 fundraiser performance by renowned Italian Tenor Alberto Profeta Direct from Sicily, music by Tino D’Agostino and his Band
Emcee Ross Zagami, Saturday, November 7, 2026, Watertown, MA Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge, 520 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, 6:00pm – 7:00pm Social Hour & Cash Bar, 7:00pm – Appetizers/Light Meal/Desserts/Coffee, 8:00pm – 10:00pm Performance. For more information or tickets, please contact: Marisa Di Pietro 617-650-3442 Marisadipietro65@gmail.com, or Florence Guidara 617-877-7285
American Italian Women of Greater New Haven
October 25 - Charity Benefit Luncheon at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven, Connecticut. Donations will benefit Halfway Home Rescue, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to saving the lives of abused, abandoned, and homeless animals.
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 51 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – August 30, 2026 – September 11th Tribute
Over 500 Italian Americans and dozens of Italian citizens died as a result of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks; more than ten percent of the victims were of Italian descent. The sacrifice of these individuals further strengthened the brotherhood between Italy and America by shared sacrifice and unity in mourning. To honor the fallen, the U.S. State Department donated a 20-foot steel beam recovered from the South Tower wreckage to the city of Padova, Italy. There, it forms the center of the "Memory and Light" monument, or “Memoria e Luce” in Italian, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The monument is shaped like an open glass book facing the Statue of Liberty and stands as a permanent tribute to the eternal bond and shared sacrifices of the Italian and American people. Below are descriptions of several fallen heroes from that day whose bloodshed seals that bond and must always be remembered.
Peter J. Ganci Jr., Chief of Department, FDNY, was the highest-ranking uniformed officer in the New York City Fire Department. On 9/11, he set up a command post near the North Tower. When the South Tower collapsed, he immediately ordered his men to clear out and set up a new base of operations to keep saving lives. He refused to leave his post and was killed when the North Tower collapsed.
The Vigiano Brothers, Joseph Vigiano was an NYPD detective, and his brother John was an FDNY firefighter. Both brothers rushed into the burning towers to rescue civilians and were killed in the line of duty. Their story remains an enduring symbol of Italian-American heroism and sacrifice.
Joseph Angelini Sr. & Joseph Angelini Jr., a father-and-son who were both FDNY firefighters courageously charged into the World Trade Center to rescue those trapped inside and perished together. Joseph Sr. was 63 years old and the department’s oldest active firefighter at the time.
Christopher C. Amoroso, a Port Authority Police Officer, was famously photographed covered in dust, actively leading terrified civilians out of the North Tower. After escorting a group to safety, he chose to run back inside the burning structure to rescue more people and was killed when the tower collapsed. In 2021, Christopher’s wife, Jaime, met a woman who he saved.
Ronald Bucca, a FDNY Fire Marshal known as "The Flying Fireman" for surviving a fall in the line of duty earlier in his career, was a fire marshal who rushed to the World Trade Center despite not being dispatched. Armed with his gear, he and Battalion Chief Orio Palmer remarkably made it all the way up to the 78th floor of the South Tower, which was the impact zone, to fight the fire and guide people to safety before the tower fell.
John D'Allara was an elite NYPD Emergency Service Unit (ESU) police officer who tragically made the ultimate sacrifice while helping civilians evacuate the lower floors of the World Trade Center's North Tower. In the chaos that followed the strike, FDNY firefighter Bill Spade was unable to open a door to evacuate civilians. He worked closely alongside Officer D'Allara, to force a door open, leading survivors out of the building and parting ways. The docuseries 9/11 Reunited, Episode 3 highlights a deeply emotional meeting where Bill Spade reunites with John D'Allara's surviving family. Spade shares his final memories of John, comforting the D’Allara family with the knowledge that John was bravely performing his duty and thinking of them in his final moments.
On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked more than buildings. They sought to destroy symbols of American prosperity, capitalism, and freedom, with a complete disregard for human life. They wanted to strike fear into the heart of a nation and make America question itself. But instead of breaking America, the attack made us more steadfast and unified on that day, and ordinary Americans rose to the occasion as heroes by running toward danger, helping strangers, and sacrificing themselves for others.
We must never forget the lives that were lost or the ideals those lives represented. Let us forever protect the symbols that embody our history and our achievements, and let us never apologize for who we are, what we have built, or the values that have made America a beacon to the world. We honor those we lost not by retreating from our identity, but by standing boldly in defense of it.
This Week in Italian American History
August 30, 1706 - Pietro Micca's sacrifice at the Siege of Turin
During the War of the Spanish Succession, Pietro Micca, a Piedmontese soldier, deliberately blew up a passageway and sacrificed himself to prevent French troops from entering the citadel of Turin.
September 1, 1923 - Rocky Marciano is born
Rocco Francis Marchegiano, better known as Rocky Marciano, was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. He became the only heavyweight champion to retire undefeated, finishing his career 49–0, with 43 knockouts.
September 1, 1989 - A. Bartlett Giamatti dies
Italian-American scholar A. Bartlett Giamatti, former president of Yale University, died in 1989. His leadership at Yale and his position as Commissioner of Major League Baseball were significant achievements and meaningful to Connecticut’s Italian community.
September 2, 31 BC - Battle of Actium
Octavian defeated the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra at the Battle of Actium. The victory ultimately enabled Octavian to become Augustus and establish the Roman Empire.
September 3, 1950 - Giuseppe Farina wins the first Italian Formula One Grand Prix championship race
Italian driver Giuseppe “Nino” Farina, driving an Alfa Romeo, won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and became the first Formula One World Drivers' Champion.
September 3, 1970 - Vince Lombardi dies
Legendary American football coach Vince Lombardi died at age 57. Lombardi became one of the most influential coaches in American sports history, and the Super Bowl trophy is named after him.
September 5, 1877 - Giovanni Schiaparelli observes the “canals” of Mars
Italian astronomer Giovanni Virginio Schiaparelli observed and mapped what he described as canali on Mars. The term was later translated as “canals,” helping fuel speculation about intelligent life on Mars.
September 6, 1492 - Columbus leaves the Canary Islands for the Atlantic crossing
Christopher Columbus departed from La Gomera in the Canary Islands after making final preparations there and would discover America the following month.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
- Russo Brothers Reveal Why Fans Can’t Skip Avengers Endgame: Encore Before Doomsday
- Buona Festa! St. Mary of Carmen Society goes loud and proud for 91st Italian-American Festival
- My Mother’s Kitchen: The Kitchens of Taylor Street: A memoir about family, identity, and the story of Chicago’s Italian American neighborhoods during the 1950s and early 60s. - Book Review
- Brooklyn’s largest Italian-American feast is taking over 8 streets with free admission, classic street eats, & carnival rides — but it ends this Sunday
- Pittsburgh’s Columbus Day Parade Returns as a Celebration of Heritage and Community
Italian-American Events
Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Events
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klein – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
UNICO Stamford Italian Heritage Month in Connecticut
October 1st-31st; “Italian Contributions to the World” Exhibit; Main Lobby, Ferguson Library
October 2nd; Federazione Laziali d'America Wine Tasting Contest, 7pm (doors open 6:30) $10 at Italian Center of Stamford 1620 Newfield Ave
October 3rd; "Cooking with Maria from Columbus Park Trattoria" Cooking Demonstration, Ferguson Library, 11 am FREE, register On Ferguson website
October 11th; COLUMBUS DAY ITALIAN MASS, 10 AM, Sacred Heart Church
October 11th; FLAG RAISING AND COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATION, 11:30am, Columbus Park
October 16th; Italian Film Festival, “Life is Beautiful”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 17th, Children's Craft Event: Venetian Masks, Ferguson Library, Free 11 am. Register on Ferguson website
October 18th, Luigi Del Bianco, Chief Carver Mt. Rushmore Lecture, Ferguson Library, Free 2 pm
October 19th through October 23rd Italian Heritage Exhibit, CT State Community College Norwalk Lobby 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 20th; Viewing of Cinema Paradiso, 3pm CT State Community College Norwalk Theater, 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 23rd; Italian Film Festival, “Moonstruck”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 24th; “ Settefrati, Our Sister City” Harry Bennett Branch of Ferguson Library, FREE 2 pm – 3:30 pm
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage Night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
October 25th; Gardening Event (including growing tips, recipe and seed exchange) at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd. $20 museum “Fall Event” entrance fee, 10am – 1pm
Italian American Alliance Event
The IAA & the AMICI Project present its 2026 fundraiser performance by renowned Italian Tenor Alberto Profeta Direct from Sicily, music by Tino D’Agostino and his Band; Emcee Ross Zagami, Saturday, November 7, 2026, Watertown, MA Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge, 520 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, 6:00pm – 7:00pm Social Hour & Cash Bar, 7:00pm – Appetizers/Light Meal/Desserts/Coffee, 8:00pm – 10:00pm Performance. For more information or tickets, please contact: Marisa Di Pietro 617-650-3442 Marisadipietro65@gmail.com, or Florence Guidara 617-877-7285
American Italian Women of Greater New Haven
October 25 - Charity Benefit Luncheon at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven, Connecticut. Donations will benefit Halfway Home Rescue, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to saving the lives of abused, abandoned, and homeless animals.
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 51 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
Memory and Light monument in Padua, Italy
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – August 23, 2026 – Remember Sacco and Vanzetti
Let’s begin this newsletter by remembering the words of Bartolomeo Vanzetti. Here are Bartolomeo Vanzetti’s words before his and his friend Sacco’s execution on August 23, 1927.
Sacco too is a worker from his boyhood, a skilled worker, lover of work, with a good job and pay, a good and lovely wife, two beautiful children and a neat little home at the verge of a wood, near a brook. Sacco is a heart, a faith, a character, a man; a man lover of nature and of mankind. A man who gave all, who sacrifice all to the cause of Liberty and to his love of mankind; money, rest, mundane ambitions, his own wife, his children, himself and his own life. Sacco has never dreamt to steal, never to assassinate. He and I never brought a morsel of bread to our mouths, from our childhood to today – which has not been gained by the sweat of our brows. Never.
I might have live out my life talking at street corners to scorning men. I might have die, unmarked, unknown, a failure. Now we are not a failure. This is our career and our triumph. Never in our full life could we hope to do such work for tolerance, for justice, for man’s understanding of man as now we do by accident. Our words – our lives – our pains – nothing! The taking of our lives – lives of a good shoemaker and a poor fish peddler – all! The last moment belongs to us – the agony is our triumph.
This Week in Italian American History
August 23, 1927 - Sacco and Vanzetti are executed
Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were executed in Massachusetts after being convicted of the 1920 murder and robbery of two payroll employees in South Braintree. Their trial and conviction became international news. In 1977, Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis formally declared that they had not received a fair trial.
August 24, AD 79 - Mount Vesuvius erupts
Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried Pompeii and other communities in the Bay of Naples. The volcanic eruption preserved the city, frozen in time, giving the world an important window into ancient Roman life.
August 25 - Death of Pliny the Elder, AD 79
Pliny the Elder, the Roman author, naturalist and naval commander, died during the Vesuvius disaster while attempting to investigate the eruption and assist people fleeing the catastrophe.
August 26, 1874 - George A. Scigliano is born in Boston
George A. Scigliano, born in Boston's North End, became an important early Italian American political and community leader. He served on the Boston Common Council and later in the Massachusetts legislature, advocating for the interests of Italian immigrants.
August 26, 1908 - Father Salvatore Cianci arrives in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Sicilian-born Father Salvatore Cianci arrived in Grand Rapids to minister to its growing Italian immigrant population. He immediately began visiting Italian families and eventually helped establish Our Lady of Sorrows Church, which became an important center of Italian American religious and cultural life.
August 27, 1944 - Marchegiana Society incorporated in Illinois
The Marchegiana Society of Chicago Heights, originally founded as a mutual-aid society for immigrants from Italy's Marche region, was incorporated as an Illinois nonprofit on August 27, 1944. It later opened membership to Italian Americans from throughout Italy.
August 28, 1565 - An Italian is among the first Europeans to set foot at St. Augustine
An Italian servant accompanying the Spanish expedition of Pedro Menéndez de Avilés went ashore near what became St. Augustine, Florida, on August 28, 1565.
August 29, 1914 - The Macaroni Riots begin in Providence
In Federal Hill, Providence, a predominantly Italian neighborhood, approximately 1,000 people participated in a protest over rapidly rising food prices, particularly the price of macaroni. The August 29 demonstration became violent, with looting and clashes with police.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
- Can Bridgeport find common ground on returning Columbus statue to Seaside Park?
- A Visit to “The Last Supper” in Milan, and Italy’s Still Italy
- ‘Embarrassing’ American tourists break obscure law in Italian hotspot with common behavior — and face $300 fine
- Italy’s $10 Billion Pharma Family Makes a U.S. Power Move
Italian-American Events
Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Events
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klein – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
UNICO Stamford Italian Heritage Month in Connecticut
October 1st-31st; “Italian Contributions to the World” Exhibit; Main Lobby, Ferguson Library
October 2nd; Federazione Laziali d'America Wine Tasting Contest, 7pm (doors open 6:30) $10 at Italian Center of Stamford 1620 Newfield Ave
October 3rd; "Cooking with Maria from Columbus Park Trattoria" Cooking Demonstration, Ferguson Library, 11 am FREE, register On Ferguson website
October 11th; COLUMBUS DAY ITALIAN MASS, 10 AM, Sacred Heart Church
October 11th; FLAG RAISING AND COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATION, 11:30am, Columbus Park
October 16th; Italian Film Festival, “Life is Beautiful”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 17th, Children's Craft Event: Venetian Masks, Ferguson Library, Free 11 am. Register on Ferguson website
October 18th, Luigi Del Bianco, Chief Carver Mt. Rushmore Lecture, Ferguson Library, Free 2 pm
October 19th through October 23rd Italian Heritage Exhibit, CT State Community College Norwalk Lobby 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 20th; Viewing of Cinema Paradiso, 3pm CT State Community College Norwalk Theater, 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 23rd; Italian Film Festival, “Moonstruck”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 24th; “ Settefrati, Our Sister City” Harry Bennett Branch of Ferguson Library, FREE 2 pm – 3:30 pm
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage Night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
October 25th; Gardening Event (including growing tips, recipe and seed exchange) at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd. $20 museum “Fall Event” entrance fee, 10am – 1pm
Italian American Alliance Event
The IAA & the AMICI Project present its 2026 fundraiser performance by renowned Italian Tenor Alberto Profeta Direct from Sicily, music by Tino D’Agostino and his Band
Emcee Ross Zagami, Saturday, November 7, 2026, Watertown, MA Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge, 520 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, 6:00pm – 7:00pm Social Hour & Cash Bar, 7:00pm – Appetizers/Light Meal/Desserts/Coffee, 8:00pm – 10:00pm Performance. For more information or tickets, please contact: Marisa Di Pietro 617-650-3442 Marisadipietro65@gmail.com, or Florence Guidara 617-877-7285
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 51 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – August 16, 2026 – Gear Up for Italian American Events
As summer winds down and sales tax-free back to school shopping in Connecticut begins, it is the perfect time to mark your calendars for Italian Heritage Month events. This week’s newsletter includes a list of upcoming events. Expect more to be added soon!
This Week in Italian American History
August 16–17, 1893 — Aigues-Mortes Massacre of Italian Workers In Aigues-Mortes, France, Italian seasonal salt workers were attacked by French workers and a mob amid economic tensions and anti-Italian xenophobia. The official death toll was eight Italians, although the numbers may be higher. The massacre produced anti-French demonstrations in Italy and became one of the most notorious examples of violence against Italian immigrants in nineteenth-century Europe.
August 17, 1978 — Italian-American Ben Abruzzo Completes First Transatlantic Balloon Flight Ben Abruzzo, an American balloonist from Albuquerque, along with Maxie Anderson and Larry Newman, completed the first successful balloon crossing of the Atlantic aboard Double Eagle II. They landed near Miserey, France, after approximately 137 hours in flight. The Smithsonian preserves the gondola from the historic flight.
August 19, 1860 — Garibaldi Lands in Calabria One of the most important events of the “Risorgimento” occurred when Giuseppe Garibaldi and his forces crossed the Strait of Messina and landed at Melito di Porto Salvo in Calabria after conquering Sicily. The move brought the “Expedition of the Thousand” onto the Italian mainland and set Garibaldi on the road toward Naples and the final overthrow of Bourbon rule in southern Italy.
August 19, 14 AD — Death of Augustus at Nola Augustus, Rome's first emperor, died at Nola in Campania on August 19, 14 AD. He had ruled for roughly four decades and transformed Rome from a republic into an imperial state. Nola is near modern-day Naples and is also associated with the history of St. Januarius and the Campania region.
August 22, 1968 — Pope Paul VI Begins Historic Visit to South America Pope Paul VI, born Giovanni Battista Montini, arrived in Bogotá, Colombia, on August 22, 1968, becoming the first pope to visit South America. His trip was the first of many during a new age of travel worldwide. He had also become the first pope to visit the United States when he traveled to New York in 1965.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
How Christopher Columbus used an eclipse to save his life in Jamaica
He calculated, waited for the right moment and used the scientific knowledge of his time with a cool-headed efficiency that saved his life and that of his crew.
The Columbus statue will be placed on a concrete platform built into the floor as the museum’s centerpiece to honor the contributions of Italian-Americans to Chicago.
Sacramento unveils signs marking "Little Italy" neighborhood
The signs honor the neighborhood's Italian American heritage, which dates back to the Gold Rush.
Italy recovers Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse works stolen from museum
The museum believes an organized gang was responsible and nine Moldovan nationals were questioned regarding the thefts.
Feds charge woman for allegedly vandalizing World War II Memorial in D.C.
While the First Amendment protects peaceful expression, protests, and symbolic speech in public spaces like sidewalks and parks, it does not protect vandalism, property destruction, or violence.
Italian-American Events
Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Events
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
UNICO Stamford Italian Heritage Month in Connecticut
October 1st-31st; “Italian Contributions to the World” Exhibit; Main Lobby, Ferguson Library
October 2nd; Federazione Laziali d'America Wine Tasting Contest, 7pm (doors open 6:30) $10 at Italian Center of Stamford 1620 Newfield Ave
October 3rd; "Cooking with Maria from Columbus Park Trattoria" Cooking Demonstration, Ferguson Library, 11 am FREE, register On Ferguson website
October 11th; COLUMBUS DAY ITALIAN MASS, 10 AM, Sacred Heart Church
October 11th; FLAG RAISING AND COLUMBUS DAY CELEBRATION, 11:30am, Columbus Park
October 16th; Italian Film Festival, “Life is Beautiful”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 17th, Children's Craft Event: Venetian Masks, Ferguson Library, Free 11 am. Register on Ferguson website
October 18th, Luigi Del Bianco, Chief Carver Mt. Rushmore Lecture, Ferguson Library, Free 2 pm
October 19th through October 23rd Italian Heritage Exhibit, CT State Community College Norwalk Lobby 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 20th; Viewing of Cinema Paradiso, 3pm CT State Community College Norwalk Theater, 188 Richards Ave, Norwalk
October 23rd; Italian Film Festival, “Moonstruck”, Ferguson Library (Sponsored by AVON), Free viewing time 6:30-9pm
October 24th; “ Settefrati, Our Sister City” Harry Bennett Branch of Ferguson Library, FREE 2 pm – 3:30 pm
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage Night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
October 25th; Gardening Event (including growing tips, recipe and seed exchange) at the Stamford Museum and Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Rd. $20 museum “Fall Event” entrance fee, 10am – 1pm
Italian American Alliance Event
The IAA & the AMICI Project present its 2026 fundraiser* performance by renowned Italian Tenor Alberto Profeta Direct from Sicily, Music by Tino D’Agostino and his Band
Emcee Ross Zagami, Saturday, November 7, 2026, Watertown, MA Sons & Daughters of Italy Lodge, 520 Pleasant Street, Watertown, MA 02472, 6:00pm – 7:00pm Social Hour & Cash Bar, 7:00pm – Appetizers/Light Meal/Desserts/Coffee, 8:00pm – 10:00pm Performance, For more information or tickets, please contact: Marisa Di Pietro 617-650-3442 Marisadipietro65@gmail.com, or Florence Guidara 617-877-7285
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 51 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
The 116th Greater Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade driving in this beauty, a 1948 Buick Super.
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – August 9, 2026 – Let’s Continue to Advocate for Our Heritage
IADL continues to grow, having 220 full members and 51 newsletter subscribers. This week’s newsletter focuses on who we are and where we are going as an organization.
Who We Are
Italian-American Defense League is a 501c4 nonprofit organization created in response to cancel culture, rioting, and the destruction of historical monuments during the Summer of 2020, dedicated to the restoration of the Christopher Columbus monument that was removed from Wooster Square Park in New Haven. The statue and plaque were removed on June 24, 2020.
What Happened?
Following the George Floyd tragedy in Minneapolis, two young people in New Haven created petitions to remove the Columbus statue in New Haven. A few members known in the Wooster Square community acted quickly and cooperated with the mayor of New Haven to have the Parks Department remove the statue. No public notice was given, and no date was set. Citizens protested the removal but were ignored. An Italian group filed an injunction to stop the removal but lost. The city formed a new Wooster Square Monument Committee to create a new statue and never considered returning the Columbus statue to its plinth.
Legal Battles
American Italian Women of Greater New Haven filed a lawsuit. The court determined the group had standing to sue but did not show a financial loss, and the case was dismissed. IADL filed a federal lawsuit. The judge determined we did not have standing or ownership. We filed an appeal to the Second District Court, and the court determined IADL had standing based on associative and aesthetic standing, but did not prove a property or liberty interest. The court did not allow IADL to amend its case.
Accomplishments
- Fifty attendees passed an Italian Unity Resolution on September 28, 2022.
- Uniting UNICO, Connecticut Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, and IADL in a mutual effort to create an Italian Heritage Commission and maintain Columbus Day.
- Advocated for and maintained Columbus Day in public schools in Clinton and Guilford, Connecticut. Branford, CT and Madison, CT do not call the second Monday of October “Indigenous Peoples’ Day” on their school calendars.
- Met with Senator Blumenthal with representatives of the Connecticut Italian community and received a promise to keep Columbus Day a federal holiday.
- Filed a joint letter with the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport to condemn an anti-Italian comment of a political candidate against Italians.
- Sent letters to companies promoting anti-Italianism, including an online retailer that changed the name of a product that contained an anti-Italian slur.
- Joined the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations and advocated for Columbus Day at the White House.
- Introduced the Italian American Alliance of Massachusetts to the Native American Guardian’s Association. Now the Italian American One Voice Coalition, IAA, and NAGA hold a monthly “Solidarity Session” on Zoom.
- Prior to IADL, lawsuits primarily focused on discrimination and due process. Now, other lawsuits nationwide follow IADL’s lead, including a lawsuit in Columbus, Ohio, by including historical preservation law.
- Collaborated with Italian American Civic leaders in Bridgeport to return its Columbus statue.
- Organized and participated in a number of cultural events including parades, wreath laying ceremonies, author book talks, film viewings, and dinners.
Challenges
- Mayors of cities throughout America capitulated to rioters and criminals.
- Columbus as a symbol is a target of a very well-organized social justice movement that embraces cultural Marxism and anti-Americanism. Progressives adopted the word “intersectionality” to create a movement of victimhood, oppressor versus oppressed.
- Italians are specifically targeted because we champion an appreciation and love of the United States as a beacon of freedom and the land of opportunity. People of Italian descent are a target because they have contributed greatly to every facet of American life.
- After two decades of anti-American and revisionist history in higher education, UC Berkeley organized a conference in 1992 that called to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day, tainting Western Civilization's history to its discovery of America in 1492. Italians always warned that the founding fathers would be next, and our warnings came to fruition.
- Italian language and history are being replaced in public school curriculum. Columbus Day is replaced with Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and now, Christian holidays are being “de-centered” from calendars, just as monuments were removed.
Goals
- Return the Christopher Columbus statue to its plinth in Wooster Square, New Haven.
- Form a Connecticut Italian Heritage Commission to protect the culture of Western Civilization in Connecticut.
- Collaborate with the City of Hartford, Bridgeport, and New London to agree on solutions regarding the future of their Christopher Columbus monuments.
- Adopt an Italian Heritage Curriculum in public schools in Connecticut.
This Week in Italian American History
- August 9, 1173 — Construction of the Leaning Tower of Pisa Begins: The first foundation stone was laid for the campanile (bell tower) of Pisa's cathedral. Due to unstable subsoil, the structure began to tilt almost immediately, turning a construction flaw into one of the world's most famous symbols of Italian architectural history.
- August 13, 1910 — The Birth of the Fisherman's Feast: Italian immigrants from Sciacca, Sicily, officially introduced the Fisherman's Feast of the Madonna Del Soccorso to Boston's North End. As the oldest continuous Italian festival in Boston, it honors the patron saint of fishermen with street processions and the traditional flight of the angel.
- August 12, 1944 — The Sant'Anna di Stazzema Massacre: In one of the darkest chapters of Italian World War II history, Nazi SS units, assisted by Italian fascist collaborators, rounded up and murdered 560 civilians in the Tuscan village of Sant'Anna di Stazzema. The site remains a national monument to the horrors of the war.
- August 14, 1480 — The Martyrs of Otranto: Following the Ottoman invasion of the City of Otranto in Puglia, 813 historic residents were executed for refusing to convert to Islam. Known as the Martyrs of Otranto, they were officially canonized as saints by the Catholic Church in 2013.
- August 15 — The Feast of the Assumption (Ferragosto): Originating 2,000 years ago as the Roman Feriae Augusti and later adapted into the Catholic calendar, August 15 is a celebration of religion, summer, and leisure.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
Public meetings set to discuss planned return of Christopher Columbus statue to Bridgeport park
The statue was removed six years ago, but news of its planned return sparked immediate pushback from local officials and residents who cite a lack of prior community consultation.
Bridgeport parks chief blocks private effort to return Columbus statue to Seaside Park
Shelton's mayor part of Italian American group's push to restore it.
NYC to unveil new Columbus statue as group sidesteps Mamdani’s middle finger
A new nonprofit is planning to unveil a Christopher Columbus statue in Brooklyn this October.
Bill Conti: fifty years of Rocky, melody and Italian American pride
“A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it isn't worth a thousand feelings. My responsibility is to put those feelings into music.” - Bill Conti, composer
Magnitude 4.7 quake strikes near Italy's Naples, causing outages and damage
The region felt its strongest earthquake of the past 40 years.
Italian-American Events
August 13th – UNICO Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball game. Contact Peter Petrella. 413-330-1156
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 51 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
This October 21, 1892 dedication plaque was removed from the plinth at Wooster Square, New Haven.
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – August 2, 2026 – Massachusetts Man Makes His Mark on Maintaining History
For many of us have who have spent years struggling to preserve Italian American history, a recent moment in Boston, Massachusetts reminds us why we continue our important work. The opening of the North End Historical Museum is inspirational as too many communities have witnessed their landmarks disappear, history fading away and erased; the North End took another road. Thanks to the vision, passion, and dedication of Tom Damigella, the stories of Boston’s famous North End will be preserved and taught to future generations. The neighborhood that is known for its Italian heritage, Paul Revere’s ride, and the Old North Church, will now house a museum that will permanently mark the neighborhood's history.
The North End Historical Society was founded in 2010, a humble beginning that started with an idea. And now 16 years later, Damigella’s dream came true with the opening of the new museum on Prince Street. Yes. That is correct. The street that was known from coast to coast because of Anthony and Prince spaghetti commercials during the seventies and eighties. Damigella’s roots are so deep in the North End that he knew Anthony Martignetti who passed away in 2020. I’ve had the privilege of working with Damigella when collaborating with the Italian American Alliance. I am sure his humility, humor, charisma, and steadfast nature were crucial on the road to the museum’s opening last week. Let this moment remind us that history only survives when we protect it. Damigella is a protector.
Read “The new North End Historical Museum may be a small space, but it aims to tell a big story” by Camilo Fonseca to learn more about Tom Damigella, President of the North End Historical Society, and his dream that became a reality.
This Week in Italian American History
- August 2, 1980 – The Bologna Centrale railway station bombing killed 85 people and injured more than 200 in Italy's deadliest terrorist attack during the "Years of Lead." The attack remains one of the darkest days in modern Italian history.
- August 2, 216 BC – Hannibal Barca defeated the Roman Republic at the Battle of Cannae in southeastern Italy. The battle is still studied in military academies as one of history's greatest tactical victories.
- August 3, 1492 – Christopher Columbus departed Palos, Spain, on his first voyage across the Atlantic, launching the expedition that forever connected Europe and the Americas.
- August 4, 1901 – Jazz legend Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans. Armstrong's longtime manager, Joe Glaser, was an Italian American whose business leadership helped make Armstrong an international icon.
- August 4, 1983 – Joe DiMaggio was inducted into the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, recognizing one of the greatest players in baseball history.
- August 5 – The Feast of Our Lady of the Snows is celebrated by many Italian-American Catholic communities. The devotion is especially associated with Italian parishes and summer religious festivals throughout the United States.
- August 6, 1945 – Italian-born physicist Enrico Fermi witnessed the culmination of scientific work that led to the atomic age. Fermi's earlier achievement in creating the first controlled nuclear chain reaction in Chicago had transformed modern physics.
- August 7, 1942 – During World War II, the U.S. government began easing restrictions placed on Italian immigrants who had been classified as "enemy aliens," restoring many civil liberties that had been suspended after Pearl Harbor.
- August 8, 1956 – The Bois du Cazier mining disaster claimed 262 lives, including 136 Italian miners who had emigrated to Belgium for work. The tragedy remains one of the defining events in Italy's postwar emigration history.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
We the Italians Magazine by Umberto Mucci, Founder & Editor
Please enjoy the July 2026 edition of We the Italians online magazine, 107 pages about Italy, in English, for free. In this issue we talk about Abruzzo, Basilicata, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Piemonte, Puglia, Sicilia, Toscana, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and much, much more.
Allure of Lakes by Carla Gambescia
Enjoy breathtaking photos and vivid descriptions of Italy’s lakes by the author of “Postcards from the Boot” and La Dolce Vita University.
Italian American Base in Staten Island Gives Way to New Chinese Immigrants
Once shorthand for the “Guido” caricature immortalized in My Cousin Vinny, the outer borough is being reshaped by a rapid rise in globalized population
Fauci Diaries Reveal COVID-Era Calls With Stephen Miller and Wife Before Feud
The released documents shed light on a once-close professional and personal relationship
Italian soccer legend Franco Baresi dead at 66
Baresi played for AC Milan for 20 years, won 3 European Cups and 6 Serie A titles. He was a member of the 1982 World Cup Champion Team but did not play in the tournament. His teams finished third in 1990 and second in 1994 in consecutive World Cups.
Italian-American Events
August 8th & 9th at 3 PM- Experience OPERA THEATER OF CONNECTICUT’S production of Puccini’s compelling masterpiece Tosca in the new, audience-friendly Morgan Theater, 71 Killingworth Tpke, Clinton. This powerful story blends politics, romantic love, and betrayal, with dramatic intrigue and memorable music, including the famous “Te Deum”, performed with a large chorus and OTC’s orchestra. General admission tickets are $65.00 for adults, $60.00 for seniors, and $30.00 for children under 18. Purchase tickets here.
Save the Dates
August 6th – Arcudi Leadership Awards Dinner
August 13th – UNICO Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball game. Contact Peter Petrella. 413-330-1156
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 50 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – July 26, 2026 – Most Significant Italian American Event of the Past 25 Years
In celebration of America 250, IADL was asked: What is the most significant event in Italian American history of the past twenty-five years in New Haven? Was it the ten terms of Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., which ended in 2013? Or the suburban flight of popular businesses such as Rocco’s Bakery or Ferrara’s Market? Could it be the designation of Connecticut as The Pizza State? As the decades pass, New Haven has witnessed a gradual decentering of Italian identity, along with a growing tendency to reduce Italian Americans to simplistic and enduring stereotypes. The following date cements the political and cultural marginalization of Italians in New Haven.
June 24, 2020– Hundreds of Italian Americans protested the removal of the Christopher Columbus statue that stood in Wooster Square Park for 128 years, symbolizing “a pledge of the loyalty of the Italians of this country to the nation and its flag.” The Columbus monument was dedicated by Paul Russo and United Italian Societies on October 21, 1892, the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in America and following the mass lynchings of eleven Italians in New Orleans. At the ceremony, Mayor Joseph B. Sargent pledged the “care and keeping” of the monument, agreeing to have it “remain here forever.”
Mayor Justin Elicker and the Parks Department transported the statue and dedication plaque into storage in response to social unrest after the tragic death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. During the aftermath, two Italian organizations filed lawsuits arguing that the City of New Haven violated public notice laws and discriminated against Italians, but the cases were dismissed by federal courts.
The City of New Haven created the Wooster Square Monument Committee which approved the installation of a new, bronze sculpture, titled "Indicando la Via al Futuro." In English that means, “Pointing the Way to the Future.” The monument was dedicated on June 9, 2024, depicting an Italian immigrant family of four arriving in America with their suitcases and a book, juxtaposed to the empty plinth of the former Columbus statue.
That day a line was drawn in the soil of Wooster Square Park. The mayor and city officials decided that Italians only belong in the park if they acquiesce to the political whims of the power players in New Haven. The few Italians who were still part of the political inner circle of city politics adopted a new statue, a new narrative, and a new version of history of historical revisionism based on modern day politics.
This Week in Italian American History
- July 27, 1897 – Guglielmo Marconi Demonstrates Wireless Telegraphy. In the late summer of 1897, Marconi successfully demonstrated his wireless telegraph system in England, helping launch the age of radio communication. His work would eventually earn him the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics.
- July 29, 1900–1900 – King Umberto I Assassinated. King Umberto I of Italy was assassinated in Monza by anarchist Gaetano Bresci, an Italian immigrant who had lived in the United States before returning to Italy. His death led to the reign of King Victor Emmanuel III.
- August 1, 1498 – Christopher Columbus Reaches the South American Mainland. During his third voyage, Columbus became the first European to reach the mainland of South America, landing near present-day Venezuela. The voyage expanded European knowledge of the Western Hemisphere.
- August 1, 1946 – The Vespa Scooter Goes on Sale. Piaggio, a manufacturer that started in Genoa, introduced the Vespa to the public, creating one of Italy's most recognizable industrial and cultural icons. The Vespa, originally thought to have a wasp-like shape, became a symbol of postwar Italian ingenuity and style.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
Bridgeport Christopher Columbus Statue Will Return to Seaside Park
“While supporters argue the monument represents culture and was never legally gifted to the city, activists led by Jorge Cruz pledge protests against the reinstallation.” -Frank Recchia
Roger Stone is a conservative political strategist. He’s been described as a Trump ally and has worked on presidential campaigns for decades. Regardless of your political affiliation, Stone is a staunch defender of Columbus Day, the American holiday championed by Italians for more than 130 years. This is perhaps the best argument I’ve read to date in favor of Columbus Day.
“The hot weather forced the temporary closure of one of Italy's most extraordinary museum collections after an air-conditioning failure endangered centuries-old wax anatomical models.” -Truby Chiaviello
Pirlo set for Italy job after Guardiola rejection, report says
“The Italian Football Federation (FIGC) has reached an agreement with former Italy midfielder Andrea Pirlo to become the national team's coach” -Reuters
Pizza, pasta, potatoes, protein - how Italian children became so overweight
“In parts of the Campania region, more than 40% of eight and nine-year-olds are overweight.”-Sofia Battiza
The global battle for Italian citizenship rights just got a potential lifeline
“The high-stakes battle to overturn the controversial legislation has officially restarted.” -Julia Buckley
Italian-American Events
***Italian-American Defense League Board Meeting –Thursday, July 30th – Branford, CT ***
Attention to all IADL members: our next IADL meeting will take place at James Blackstone Memorial Library. The library’s address is 758 Main Street, Branford, CT 06405. All members are welcome. IADL board members would like to meet you in person, listen to your perspective, and talk more about upcoming events. Don’t miss this important event on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 6PM. Please RSVP using this link, so we can plan appropriately.
August 8th & 9th at 3 PM- Experience OPERA THEATER OF CONNECTICUT’S production of Puccini’s compelling masterpiece Tosca in the new, audience-friendly Morgan Theater, 71 Killingworth Tpke, Clinton. This powerful story blends politics, romantic love, and betrayal, with dramatic intrigue and memorable music, including the famous “Te Deum”, performed with a large chorus and OTC’s orchestra. General admission tickets are $65.00 for adults, $60.00 for seniors, and $30.00 for children under 18. Purchase tickets here.
Save the Dates
August 6th – Arcudi Leadership Awards Dinner
August 13th – UNICO Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball game. Contact Peter Petrella. 413-330-1156
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 49 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
New Haven, CT - Wooster Square's Columbus statue tied down and hauled away on June 24, 2020
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – July 19, 2026 – Guido Slur Removed from Retailer Website
A complaint from a new Italian-American Defense League member led to a quick victory against ethnic stereotyping, after an online jeweler removed the term "Guido" from one of its product names. One of our newest IADL members contacted us last week expressing her disappointment with another example of discrimination against Italians while shopping online. She purchased merchandise on a website called Origami Owl. When purchasing items, the website suggested that she buy a twisted rope gold chain which the site called, “The Guido Chain.” The shopper wondered if the item was suggested based on her last name and found the name offensive.
After a quick investigation, IADL contacted the company. IADL wrote: IADL received a complaint from a customer saying that your new twisted rope chain is called the "Guido Chain.” The term "Guido" is highly offensive to many in the Italian American community because it is an ethnic slur. The Italian-American Defense League is against all forms of ethnic slurs and discrimination. We offer you the solution of immediately updating your website and calling the rope chain, "The Italian Chain," which shows that twisted rope gold chains are typical in Italian culture but not using an ethnic slur. Most likely the naming of the chain was an innocent mistake and not an intentional slight against people of Italian descent. Please show your true intent but renaming the item on your website. Thank you for taking immediate action. Mille Grazie.
Within 48 hours, the website was updated. The twisted rope chain’s name was changed to "The Brooklyn Twisted Rope Chain Necklace." The word "Guido" was replaced. The company should be commended for listening to our perspective. After receiving an update from the company, IADL thanked Origami Owl for listening to IADL's feedback, writing to the company, “Your noble intentions, kindness, and immediate action are appreciated.” Origami Owl acted swiftly and positively to IADL’s concerns. For that reason, here is a link to the jewelry retailer’s website. If you purchase one of its products, you can express your appreciation for their quick action as a member of IADL.
This Week in Italian American History
July 16, 1969 – Rocco Petrone, NASA scientist, reports a dangerous leak of liquid hydrogen four hours before the launch of Apollo 11 that saves the mission. Four days later Apollo 11 lands on the moon.
July 23, 1829 – Victor Emmanuel II was born in Turin. He became the first king of a unified Italy in 1861 during a period known as the Italian Risorgimento.
July 25, 1943 – Benito Mussolini is removed after more than two decades as Italian Prime Minister. King Victor Emmanuel III ordered Mussolini’s arrest ending Fascist rule.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
IAOVC's Andre DiMino on Mayor Mamdani's Ethnic Map - The Vinnie Penn Project, WELI, New Haven, CT.
Two of IADL’s favorite people, Dimino of the Italian American One Voice Coalition and Penn of 960 AM discuss Mamdani's cancellation of Italians in New York City.
Pride of Italy: Italian Jannik Sinner Wins Fifth Grand Slam After Triumph at Wimbledon
Sinner won 8 consecutive points to close out and win the championship against Alexander Zverez 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Historic sister parish agreement unites Springfield and Rome under Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
“This is a defining moment not only for our local Italian club and parish, but for our entire community,” said Salvatore Circosta, president of the Springfield Sons & Daughters of Italy, St. Padre Pio Chapter 3013.
Presidential Message on the Birthday of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
“Today, we celebrate the birthday of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini—a woman of boundless faith and limitless charity, a towering Italian American hero, and the first American citizen ever proclaimed a saint by the Catholic Church.” -President Trump
Celebrated Italian-American Sculptor Bruno Lucchesi Dies at 99
The artist’s masterpieces are on view at major institutions throughout the US and Europe.
BERETTA & RUSSIA: Italian Firearms Used by Russia Against Ukraine
Investigation by a Ukrainian News Site Alleges Beretta Skirted EU Sanctions Against Russia
Italian-American Events
***Italian-American Defense League Board Meeting –Thursday, July 30th – Branford, CT ***
Attention to all IADL members: our next IADL meeting will take place at James Blackstone Memorial Library. The library’s address is 758 Main Street, Branford, CT 06405. All members are welcome. IADL board members would like to meet you in person, listen to your perspective, and talk more about upcoming events. Don’t miss this important event on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at 6PM. Please RSVP using this link, so we can plan appropriately.
August 8th & 9th at 3 PM- Experience OPERA THEATER OF CONNECTICUT’S production of Puccini’s compelling masterpiece Tosca in the new, audience-friendly Morgan Theater, 71 Killingworth Tpke, Clinton. This powerful story blends politics, romantic love, and betrayal, with dramatic intrigue and memorable music, including the famous “Te Deum”, performed with a large chorus and OTC’s orchestra. General admission tickets are $65.00 for adults, $60.00 for seniors, and $30.00 for children under 18. Purchase tickets here.
Save the Dates
August 6th – Arcudi Leadership Awards Dinner
August 13th – UNICO Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball game. Contact Peter Petrella. 413-330-1156
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
Legal Fund
IADL has 220 members and 49 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
Origami Owl, an online retailer, renamed its twisted rope chain from "The Guido" to "The Brooklyn ."
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – July 12, 2026 – Fight to Keep Little Italy on the Map
The Office of Immigrant Affairs of New York City released a map of Immigrant Enclaves last week, excluding Little Italy which caused an uproar in the Italian American community from the rank and file to the leaders of Italian organizations.
John Cervone, an IADL member, submitted this reaction to IADL after hearing the news, “A particular point of contention has emerged following the release of a city-commissioned map, intended to celebrate the diverse immigrant populations that enrich our metropolis. Regrettably, this comprehensive overview noticeably omitted or significantly underrepresented the long-standing and impactful presence of the Italian American community.” Cervone added that removing the welcome sign to Little Italy exacerbated the situation by eliminating cultural landmarks that, “hold immense importance for the Italian American population, serving as vital acknowledgments of their arduous journey and enduring legacy in building this city.” The recent removal of the iconic “Welcome to Little Italy” sign on Mulberry Street further fueled concerns that visible symbols of the neighborhood's Italian heritage are disappearing.
The Commission of Social Justice of Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America reacted with these comments by John A. Fratta, president, “This decision is a slight on the millions of Italian American immigrants whose hard work, talent, perseverance, and ingenuity have made New York City what it is today – and it is not one that we take lightly.” After condemning Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the mayor’s office for excluding Italians, he later commended them for adding Little Italy to the map by writing, “We are grateful that Mayor Mamdani and the New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs listened to the concerns of the Italian American community and corrected the omission of Little Italy from the Immigrant Enclaves map.”
Mike Crispi, president of Italian American Civil Rights League, denounced the mayor more forcefully on social media saying, “Italian Americans BUILT NEW YORK CITY. Not Third World Ugandans. We stand AGAINST COMMUNISTS! This is not a clerical error. This is cultural erasure.” Steve Cerulli, who is associated with Italians for Zohran, reacted to Crispi by justifying the mayor’s decision to exclusively include today’s residential immigrant communities by writing, “Many Italian Americans left these neighborhoods generations ago through mobility, assimilation, and access to whiteness.” He added, “You cannot abandon the enclave, turn it into nostalgia, restaurants, and real estate projects, and then demand it be treated like neighborhoods still receiving and sustaining new immigrant communities today.”
Criticizing Italian Americans for leaving their immigrant neighborhood in search of a better life is insulting not only to Italian Americans, but also to today's immigrants, who similarly seek economic advancement and often move from urban neighborhoods to the suburbs as their circumstances improve. Cervone concluded his letter to IADL by writing, “Italian Americans only became white after WW2 when Italian American blood was shed in defense of other countries. My father, and two uncles shed blood in Europe and the far east, it hurts to think they sacrificed themselves only to have their memories erased.”
The controversy over Little Italy is about more than a map. It raises a fundamental question about how we define an immigrant community. Is an enclave important only while it is filled with newly arrived immigrants, or does it remain significant because of the generations who struggled there, built businesses there, raised families there, and helped shape the city? Maybe the question we should be asking is: Why do Italians in politics comply with mayors of large cities who define us?
Italian Heritage News & Culture
How Federal Hill became Rhode Island’s iconic Little Italy food hub - Food & Culture
“Many Italian immigrants arriving in the late 1800s and early 1900s, brought their skills as bakers and their cooking skills along with their favorite foods.” - Gail Ciampa
36 Hours: Lecce, Italy - Travel
“The beautifully preserved Baroque city of Lecce offers ample rewards for anyone seeking a beach break.” - Seth Sherwood
That’s Amore: An Italian American from New Jersey Goes to Italy -Travel
“There’s a Frank Sinatra song called ‘Come Back to Sorrento’ that has always hit me somewhere deep, so when it came time to plan the trip, Sorrento felt less like a choice and more like a calling.” -Christopher Gialanella
Italy busts Russian spy ring collecting data on Ukrainian air defense vulnerabilities - World Affairs
“On Thursday, the Italian government announced it was expelling two Russian military attaches working at the Russian embassy.” -Tom Kington
Bound by a Name, United by Heritage: Amerigo Vespucci Society Welcomed Aboard Italy’s Legendary Training Ship - History & Culture
" For members of the Amerigo Vespucci Society (AVS), stepping aboard the Italian Navy’s legendary training ship Amerigo Vespucci was much more than a visit to one of the world’s most admired sailing vessels.” - Roberto Ferragina
Talking Points: Satire and the Italian soul - Opinion
“Italian-American identity is not monolithic. New York Italians, Pennsylvania Italians and New Jersey Italians are each a branch of the diaspora that nurtures their own customs, their distinct culinary and their own lexicon of endearments, insults and distinct accents.” -Greg Marseca
Nude man on Baltimore’s Columbus statue pedestal – Absurd News
The man explained he was expressing his freedom and was arrested for indecent exposure.
Statue of Hall of Famer James O’Rourke moved to Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT - Heritage & Culture
The Columbus plinth at Seaside Park has a new neighbor: a statue of a Bridgeport native who is credited with the first hit in the National League in 1876.
Italian-American Events
August 8th & 9th at 3 PM- Experience OPERA THEATER OF CONNECTICUT’S production of Puccini’s compelling masterpiece Tosca in the new, audience-friendly Morgan Theater, 71 Killingworth Tpke, Clinton. This powerful story blends politics, romantic love, and betrayal, with dramatic intrigue and memorable music, including the famous “Te Deum”, performed with a large chorus and OTC’s orchestra. General admission tickets are $65.00 for adults, $60.00 for seniors, and $30.00 for children under 18. Purchase tickets here.
Save the Dates
July 13th – Pasta Dinner at Port 5 – Bridgeport to support the visit from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
August 6th – Arcudi Leadership Awards Dinner
August 13th – UNICO Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball game. Contact Peter Petrella. 413-330-1156
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
Legal Fund
IADL has 219 members and 49 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
Little Italy was missing from the map but now has been added after public criticism of the mayor.
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – July 5, 2026 – Happy America 250!
Happy birthday, America! Last week, IADL shared information about Gaetano Filangieri (1753–1788), Cesare Beccaria (1738–1794), and Filippo Mazzei (1730–1816) who influenced American founders. Later in this newsletter, you’ll learn about Caesar Rodney. Today IADL will include more people of Italian descent who contributed to our early days of independence.
- Andrea Palladio: Renaissance architect whose designs inspired Jefferson's Monticello and the Virginia State Capitol. His classical style influenced early American architecture.
- William Paca: Maryland signer of the Declaration of Independence with Italian ancestry. Later served as Governor of Maryland and as a federal judge.
- Francesco Vigo: Italian-born merchant who financed George Rogers Clark and provided intelligence critical to capturing Fort Vincennes. His support helped secure the Northwest Territory for the United States.
- James Bracco: Lieutenant of Italian descent who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Represents the broader Italian contribution to American independence.
- Richard Tagliaferro: Continental Army colonel of Italian ancestry who served during the Revolution. Part of the Italian-American military legacy.
- Cosimo De Medici: Colonel of Italian descent mentioned among officers serving the Revolutionary cause. Cited as an example of Italian military participation.
- Ferdinand Finazzi: Captain of Italian ancestry who served in the Continental Army. Recognized for his role in the Revolutionary War.
- Benjamin Tagliaferro: Deputy commander of Virginia's 2nd Regiment and assistant to George Washington. One of the highest-ranking officers of Italian descent in the Continental Army.
Italians Nationwide More United than Ever Before (IADL stands with them!)
On Saturday, June 27th, IADL delegates joined the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) at the Italian American Museum in Manhattan’s Little Italy. Basil Russo, President of COPOMIAO, presented Joe Piscopo with the 2026 COPOMIAO Leadership Award in recognition of his role in helping broker the installation of Baltimore's once-toppled Columbus statue on White House grounds this past spring.
Other highlights of the event include: Russo’s unanimous reelection to a fourth consecutive 2-year term as President of COPOMIAO, the announcement that a delegation of COPOMIAO representatives are invited to Vatican City this summer to hold an audience with top Church leadership, the presentation of $107,000 in Italy disaster relief funding to Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, the scheduling of a winter meeting in Washington D.C. with Marco Peronaci, Italy's Ambassador to the U.S., and the induction of 5 new member organizations added to COPOMIAO, now totaling 78 organizations.
Alice Salvo, Danette Porto and Danielle Salasavage were honored with the Donna Distinta Award at the 2026 COPOMIAO annual meeting for their outstanding contributions to the Italian American culture. Read about their achievements here.
COPOMIAO updated attendees about its filing of a federal lawsuit against the City of Columbus, Ohio, seeking the reinstallation of the Christopher Columbus statue removed from City Hall grounds in 2020 and placed in storage without a public vote or City Council approval. The 22-foot bronze statue, a 1955 gift from Genoa, Italy, as part of a sister-city agreement, had stood outside City Hall for decades before its removal. The lawsuit, filed April 7 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, argues the statue's removal was unlawful and discriminatory.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
Former Italian Consul Alfonso Panico (also IADL member) meets Pope Leo XIV
“I was deeply struck by his humility and kindness. Rome and the Vatican already have a unique atmosphere, but spending a personal moment with the Pope adds something profoundly special. It was one of the most joyful events of my life, also for my daughter Lucia.” - Panico
“Caesar Rodney, one of America's earliest citizens of Italian descent, will get his place of renewed honor this year.” - Chiaviello
Lessons from Caesar Rodney's Ride:There's Still No Place Like Home by Ciro Poppiti III, Esq.
“Love your county, serve your community, answer the call of duty: These are the lessons of Caesar Rodney's midnight ride from Delaware to Philadelphia in July 1776.” - Poppiti III
Caesar Rodney’s Statue Included in Spirit of 76 Freedom Plaza Exhibit
“The statue installed at Freedom Plaza today is the same statue that for decades commanded the center of Rodney Square in Wilmington, Delaware,” -National Park Service
“To America’s mayors and governors—if you no longer wish to display Columbus statues in your respective cities and states, then let the Italian American community have them.” - Chiaviello
Italian-American Events
August 8th & 9th at 3 PM- Experience OPERA THEATER OF CONNECTICUT’S production of Puccini’s compelling masterpiece Tosca in the new, audience-friendly Morgan Theater, 71 Killingworth Tpke, Clinton. This powerful story blends politics, romantic love, and betrayal, with dramatic intrigue and memorable music, including the famous “Te Deum”, performed with a large chorus and OTC’s orchestra. The general admission tickets are $65.00 for adults, $60.00 for seniors, and $30.00 for children under 18. Purchase tickets here.
Save the Dates
July 13th – Pasta Dinner at Port 5 – Bridgeport to support the visit from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
August 6th – Arcudi Leadership Awards Dinner
August 13th – UNICO Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball game. Contact Peter Petrella. 413-330-1156
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
Legal Fund
IADL has 219 members and 48 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
Basil Russo recognizes Joe Piscopo for his efforts to install a Columbus statue at the White House.
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – June 28, 2026 – Knowledge is Power
As I was reading, “CT gathering helps Native Americans become more visible in the American story,” by Diane Orson, I couldn’t help but to notice the media's role in uplifting the perspectives of what they consider disadvantaged peoples throughout American history, including when developing programs for this year’s semiquincentennial celebration. I would think most historians agree on the importance of analyzing historical events from multiple perspectives, but what I notice as a norm is the absence of the Italian perspective. Recently, John A. Fratta, of Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America’s Commission of Social Justice, wrote a letter to New York Public Library for its refusal to display Italian heritage materials because of OSDIA’s support of Columbus Day. (One of IADL’s directors engaged in a similar discourse in New Haven.) As a result of several communications, NYPL has agreed to display materials in 2026. But why are we in this constant uphill battle, and what can we do about it?
For generations, Italian American history stood on its own pedestal from Ancient Rome to the Renaissance, to Immigration to the Americas. However, during recent decades, in America’s classrooms, the competition of competing narratives has monopolized time and coursework, creating a generation that is ignorant of the contributions of Italians and Italian Americans. Maybe the removal of Italian heritage materials, Columbus monuments, and Italian language programs is out of spite and jealously, but perhaps we, Italian Americans, are partially to blame for our own cultural assimilation, outside of pizza, gangsters, and buffoons, by our own complacency. Now, our only answer is for each and every one of us to become Italian heritage ambassadors by highlighting the beauty of Italian culture in our homes, among our friends, and in our workplaces.
So, we need to become more knowledgeable, ourselves, before we pass our heritage to others and to the next generation. So, when an Italian American librarian notices Italian heritage month is being ignored, the librarian can develop programming. So, when an Italian American language teacher in Connecticut notices Italian is being cut from next year’s budget, the teacher reminds the Board of Education that more than sixteen percent of Connecticut’s population is of Italian heritage. So, when an Italian American bank executive at M & T Bank notices that Columbus Day is replaced by Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the executive contacts human resources to reverse the change. So, when an America 250 committee is developing programming, Italians who influenced America’s founders are included. You know the old saying, “Knowledge is power.” We need to use it.
After attending the National Italian American Foundation’s America 250 webinar, I became more knowledgeable and hopefully can spark an interest in you. I learned about three Italian thinkers, products of the Age of the Enlightenment, who had a profound impact on American founders: Gaetano Filangieri (1753–1788), Cesare Beccaria (1738–1794), and Filippo Mazzei (1730–1816). First, Filangieri wrote La Scienza della Legislazione which explained Constitutional government, legal reform, education, and political economy (economics). His work and correspondences influenced Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Second, Beccaria wrote about criminal justice reform, opposition to torture, proportional punishments, and limitations of power. His work heavily influenced Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Wilson, and Benjamin Rush. Third, Mazzei lived in Virginia and in 1774 wrote, “All men are by nature equally free and independent." He developed a personal friendship with Thomas Jefferson, and two years later, Jefferson wrote, “All men are created equal” in the Declaration of Independence.
In 2015, the Connecticut Supreme Court discussed Cesare Beccaria’s On Crimes and Punishments (1774), which criticizes capital punishment. The Connecticut court concluded in the decision of “State vs. Santiago” that the death penalty violates the States's constitution on cruel and unusual punishment. The point made here is not to debate the death penalty, but to highlight the impact of the Italian Enlightenment into the twenty-first century.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
Primo Magazine 2nd Edition of 2026
In this online issue, read about Caitlin Clark: Women’s basketball’s latest sensation takes the country by storm, Italian Astronauts: We take a look at the men and women of Italy who traveled to space, Italy's Native Flowers: The beautiful blooms cultivated on the peninsula, depicted in art, The 5 Myths of "The Godfather" We separate fact from fiction in the movies and the novel, Ancient Rome Redux: President Trump remakes the nation’s capital to fully emulate Ancient Rome, Roman Arches in America: Trump’s proposed Roman arch will be one of many in the United States, Recipes featured are: Pollo al Balsamico, Ravioli Ricotta e Spinaci al Burro e Salvia, Insalata di Ceci, Crostini con Pancetta e Ricotta, Torta di Pan di Spagna alle Fragole e Panna, and Granita al Caffè.
Memorial to Italian immigrant families to replace Baltimore's Columbus statue torn down in 2020
A replica of Baltimore’s destroyed Columbus statue was placed on White House grounds earlier this year outside the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.
Gary Grasso: Linking Italian Americans to the mob in news stories needs to stop
“I blame that on us. Decade after decade, Chicagoans with Italian surnames have hidden instead of objected,” says Grasso, mayor of Burr Ridge.
Post Falls removes Juneteenth as city holiday, adopts Columbus Day
In a 4-2 vote, this Idaho city goes against the grain by choosing Columbus Day.
Naples outpaces the rest of Italy in economic growth
The Campania region, where Naples is located, grew almost one percent, which outpaced Milan’s growth.
Italian-American Events
Save the Dates
July 13th – Pasta Dinner at Port 5 – Bridgeport to support the visit from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
August 6th – Arcudi Leadership Awards Dinner
August 13th – UNICO Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Yard Goats Baseball game. Contact Peter Petrella. 413-330-1156
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
October 24th – UNICO's Annual Italian Heritage night at the Hartford Athletic Soccer Stadium, 7pm Home match. TAILGATE in the parking lot. 5pm. Contact MaryJoan 860-805-2139
Legal Fund
IADL has 219 members and 48 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!!
Cesare Beccaria wrote On Crimes and Punishments (1764) and influenced America's founders.
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – June 21, 2026 – Happy Father’s Day!
Italian-American Defense League received a warm welcome at “Meet the Grand Marshall: An Evening with Dan Onofrio” at Vazzano’s Four Seasons last Thursday night. IADL received a recognition as a listed partner of The Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport on the event’s program. It was IADL’s honor to listen to this year’s Grand Marshal who called for Italian American unity and to teach the next generation about our heritage. The program listed Onofrio’s background.
Dan Onofrio has spent his life building businesses, communities, and connections as the proud son of immigrant parents and President and CEO of the Bridgeport Regional Business Council, where he has strengthened its role as a leading regional advocate. Deeply committed to his heritage, he has served the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America at the national, state, and local levels, helping revitalize Italian-American cultural life through leadership, mentorship, and community engagement. A dedicated champion of preserving Italian-American history – from efforts to restore Bridgeport’s Columbus statue to ensuring these stories remain visible – Dan now carries that legacy forward as the 2026 Grand Marshal of the Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade with pride, purpose, and gratitude [Program, June 18, 2026].
Onofrio founded an interscholastic high school bocce tournament to engage young people in Italian culture. Italian language classes and clubs from high schools across the state participated in the double elimination tournament, including Shelton and Derby high schools. As an Italian-American father I embrace this idea of engaging the next generation in our traditions. For these youth, bocce may be the seed that grows into a love of Italian heritage. Today, on Father’s Day, take out the bocce balls and “Giochiammo a bocce!” Here are the basic rules of bocce.
This week in Italian-American history:
- June 22, 1905: The Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America (OSDIA) was founded by Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro and five other Italian immigrants in New York’s Little Italy. It started as a mutual aid society to help new arrivals find housing, jobs, and healthcare, and has grown into the largest Italian American organization in the country.
- June 21, 2018: The California State Legislature officially designated October as Italian-American Heritage Month.
- June 19, 1980: Congress passed a joint resolution officially establishing "National Italian-American Day" to honor the 75th anniversary of the Order Sons of Italy in America.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
We the Italians – June 2026 Edition - Free Online Magazine
In this issue, Editor and Founder Umberto Mucci includes articles about Abruzzo, Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardia, Marche, Molise, Piemonte, Puglia, Sardegna, Toscana, Trentino Alto Adige, Umbria, and Veneto.
Root for Argentina or America? By Truby Chiaviello - Sport
2026 FIFA World Cup Soccer: Both Teams Feature Top Players of Italian Descent
Italy's Meloni says Trump 'made up' story that she 'begged' him for photo at G7- Politics
Giorgia Meloni, Italian prime minister, stated, “I nor Italy ever beg.”
Italian-American Events
Italian-American Defense League Meeting – Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 PM
The meeting will take place in Woodbridge, Connecticut. Any IADL member is welcome to attend. Please RSVP by filling out the form using this link if you would like to register for this event. After you register, you will receive directions and an agenda before the meeting. This is a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who value Italian heritage in an informal and welcoming atmosphere.
Solidarity Session on Zoom– Tuesday, June 23 at 8PM
Andre Dimino invites you to attend this virtual event. Dimino’s guest speaker is Chief Tecumseh Brown-Eagle of the Moundbuilders Tribal Nation in PA. He will provide details about him and his Nation's interesting history, as well as some insights on Columbus he researched.
Register at this link for the June 2026 Solidarity Session. REMINDER - You can view the May Solidarity Session at the following link: https://youtu.be/czV2i6Pav3c.
The Italian Ideas Behind America’s Founding – Wednesday, June 24 at Noon
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) invites you to join a special virtual discussion exploring the profound influence of Italian political and legal thought on the founding of the United States as America approaches its 250th anniversary. This timely conversation will examine how the ideas of Italian Enlightenment figures such as Cesare Beccaria, Gaetano Filangieri, and Filippo Mazzei helped shape the intellectual foundations of the American Republic. Their writings on liberty, justice, constitutional government, and individual rights resonated deeply with many of the Founding Fathers and continue to inform democratic institutions today.
Moderated by Viviana Mazza, U.S. Correspondent for Corriere della Sera, the discussion will feature: Professor John Bessler, internationally recognized scholar of Cesare Beccaria and the history of criminal justice reform.
Professor Amedeo Arena, legal historian and expert on Gaetano Filangieri and the transatlantic exchange of political ideas between Italy and the United States. Together, they will explore the enduring legacy of Italian political thought, its impact on the American Revolution and Constitution, and why these connections remain relevant during the nation's semiquincentennial commemoration.
This is event is FREE and open to the public! Register here.
Save the Dates
July 13th – Pasta Dinner at Port 5 – Bridgeport to support the visit from the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band
August 6th – Arcudi Leadership Awards Dinner
September 19th – La Serata Italiana: An evening celebrating Italian heritage
October 4th – Italian Mass at St. Margaret’s Shrine, followed by wreath laying ceremony at Seaside Park and Flag Raising at Circolo Sportivio
October 9th & 10th – 2nd Marine Aircraft WIng Band at the Klien – Free Concert
October 11th – Columbus Day Parade
Legal Fund
IADL has 216 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League.
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
Dan Onofrio speaking at "Meet the Grand Marshal" dinner for the 2026 Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade.
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – June 14, 2026 – Italian Immigrant Enemy Aliens During WWII
Italian Charities of America is offering a free virtual event, a presentation titled, “Forgotten Voices, Shared Stories: Italian Americans Uprooted from Coast to Coast.” The virtual presentation will take place on Wednesday, June 17th from 7 PM - 8:30 PM EDT. The following is a description of the event for its website.
During World War II, more than 600,000 Italian immigrants living in the United States were labeled “enemy aliens.” On both coasts, ordinary families—fishermen, shopkeepers, mothers, and children—found their loyalty questioned and their livelihoods destroyed. In this dynamic presentation, authors Lindsay Marie Morris and Maria (Mia) Millefoglie weave together two rarely told stories: the forced evacuation of Italian Americans from Pittsburg, California, and the restrictions and losses endured by fishing families in Gloucester, Massachusetts. Drawing from archival photographs, oral histories, and personal storytelling, they reveal how wartime fear reshaped Italian American communities across the country, erasing cultural identities, straining family bonds, and silencing memories for generations.
Audiences will discover: The coast-to-coast impact of wartime “enemy alien” policies; The internment and surveillance of Italian Americans alongside Japanese and German neighbors; How family-run industries were devastated; How fishing licenses were revoked, vessels were requisitioned, and communities faced dangers of German U-boats in U.S. waters; Stories of resilience, adaptation, and pride that continue to shape Italian American identity today.
Together, Morris and Millefoglie honor these forgotten histories and invite reflection on what it means to belong—then and now. Lindsay Marie Morris is a novelist and journalist inspired by her Sicilian-American roots, her debut novel, The Last Letter from Sicily (Storm Publishing, January 2025), traces a World War II–era story of love, resilience, and family secrets that spans continents and generations. Her second novel, Beneath the Sicilian Stars (Storm Publishing, July 2025), returns to this pivotal moment in history, following a family divided between California and Sicily whose lives are forever changed by the war, forcing them to confront questions of loyalty, belonging, and sacrifice. Maria (Mia) Millefoglie is a writer and researcher whose work explores immigration, identity, and the untold histories of New England’s fishing communities. Her forthcoming book, Daughters of Stone and Tide: Loss and Resilience in a Fisherman’s Family (University of Massachusetts Press, Fall 2026), traces the emotional legacy of family, abandonment, and belonging across generations.
Take advantage of this opportunity and register for the event at this link.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
"Relations with the United States, thanks also to this revisitation of the past and the preservation of cultural sites, offer a very important ground for collaboration," said the ambassador.
Why Qatar qualified for World Cup, but not Italy - Sport
Yesterday Qatar tied Switzerland 1-1 in its opening match in Group B play.
Rising from Rome: Italy’s Skateboarding Transformation - Culture
The regeneration of areas of Rome’s waterfront district has transformed Italy’s relationship with the urban sport.
Celebrating faith and FIFA: Italian-American community welcomes soccer legends - Sport/Culture
The Italian American celebration included an Italian language mass and a soccer match.
St. Anthony said, “Mule! Come here and show reverence to your Creator!”
Italian-American Events
Meet the Grand Marshal of the Greater Bridgeport Columbus Day Parade
On June 18, 2026, at the Vazzano’s Four Seasons from 6 –9PM, join the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport Inc. for an unforgettable evening honoring 2026 Italian Heritage Celebration Grand Marshal Dan Onofrio. Celebrate Italian-American culture, community leadership, and regional pride with passed hors d’oeuvres, beer & wine, prizes and Italian entertainment as we recognize Dan’s lifelong dedication to business, civic engagement, and preserving Italian heritage throughout Connecticut. For more information and tickets, click here.
Italian-American Defense League Meeting – Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 PM
The meeting will take place in Woodbridge, Connecticut. Any IADL member is welcome to attend. Please RSVP by filling out the form using this link if you would like to register for this event. After you register, you will receive directions and an agenda before the meeting. This is a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who value Italian heritage in an informal and welcoming atmosphere.
Solidarity Session on Zoom– Tuesday, June 23 at 8PM
Andre Dimino invites you to attend this virtual event. Dimino’s guest speaker is Chief Tecumseh Brown-Eagle of the Moundbuilders Tribal Nation in PA. He will provide details about him and his Nation's interesting history, as well as some insights on Columbus he researched.
Register at this link for the June 2026 Solidarity Session. REMINDER - You can view the May Solidarity Session at the following link: https://youtu.be/czV2i6Pav3c.
Legal Fund
IADL has 216 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – June 7, 2026 – Next IADL Meeting Set for Later this Month
Over the past few weeks and in future newsletters, IADL will highlight significant events in Italian and Italian American history. Today in Italian history, Vatican City became a sovereign state on June 7, 1929.
Did you know that Italian-Americans fought in the Garibaldi Guard during the Civil War? The Garibaldi Guard is different than the WWII Garibaldi Brigade which was the largest Italian partisan group to fight against the Italian fascists. On August 6, 1863, Giuseppe Garibaldi wrote a letter to President Abraham Lincoln. A year before, Lincoln offered Garibaldi a major general’s commission in the Union’s army, but Garibaldi respectfully declined as his focus was on the unification of Italy. In that letter, Garibaldi referred to Italians as the “free children of Columbus,” and as a result of his communications, the 39th New York Infantry Regiment, made of up many Italians, was named the “Garibaldi Guard.” According to these statistics, “the regiment suffered a total of 274 fatalities. Eight officers and 107 enlisted men were killed in action or mortally wounded, and 1 officer and 158 enlisted men died of disease.”
The number soldiers of Italian descent in the US Armed Forces during WWII are estimated to be 1.5 million. During the war, up to 3 percent of the world’s population were killed. From North Africa to the Italian campaign, from the beaches of Normandy to Berlin, and to the Pacific, people of Italian descent saved the world. Remember the name of John Basilone who received the Medal of Honor for valor; the name of Henry Mucci who led a raid behind Japanese lines in the Philippines; the name of Anthony P. Damato who threw himself on a live grenade in a foxhole and posthumously received both The Purple Heart and Medal of Honor; the name of Gino J. Merle who received two Purple Hearts, the Bronze Star and the Battle of the Bulge Medal; the name of Vito R. Bertoldo who earned the Medal of Honor, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster, Purple Heart, and French Croix de Guerre; the name of Ralph Cheli who flew in over 40 combat missions and was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese; and the name of William J. Guarnere who was known as “Wild Bill” and received the Silver Star; 3 Bronze Stars, and 2 Purple Hearts. Read each of these hero's stories in more detail here. In addition, here is a list of Italian-American Medal of Honor recipients.
Italian Heritage News & Culture
A Passion for Puglia by Carla Gambescia-Slideshow
Enjoy a slideshow by the author of La Dolce Vita showcasing her photojournalism of many Southern Italy coastline towns known for their cultivation of cherries, plum tomatoes, and Baroque architecture.
The Case of the Missing Sole: A Sergeant Markie Mystery by Anthony Celano-Book Review
The author describes the book as, “an old-fashioned mystery novel wrapped in the gritty atmosphere of New York’s immigrant neighborhoods and shoe manufacturing trade”.
The Mystique of the Last Cannoli by Camille Cusumano-Book Review
The author describes the novel by saying, “Ultimately, The Mystique of the Last Cannoli is a novel about preserving what matters most — family memory, cultural roots, and hope itself.”
May the Force Be with Them: Two Italians at the Helm of the New Star Wars Film by Rami Chiaviello-Movie Review
Dave Filoni is the head of Lucasfilm and Jon Favreau is the director of “The Mandalorian and Grogu.”
Columbus Statue's Future Remains Unsettled as WSJ Shines Light on Statue's Fate-News
City hall has no updates on the fate of the Christopher Columbus statue.
Pope Pius XII canonized her in 1946 and in 1950 designated her “Patroness of the Immigrants.”
Italian-American Events
Italian Language Classes Online – Classes Begin Soon so Sign up Today
The Italian Center in Carmichael, California is offering online ZOOM and in-person Italian language classes. Session I Summer classes begin on June 15, 2026, and Session II summer classes begin on August 3, 2026. All the information you need to take advantage of this opportunity can be found at this link.
Opera Theater of Connecticut Gala Wine Tasting: Wine, Women, and Song – Sunday, June 14, 2026, 5pm to 7:30pm
Opera was invented in Florence at the end of the sixteenth century and is intrinsically woven into Italy’s cultural identity. Here, Opera Theater of Connecticut brings the art form to modern audiences with high quality performances at an affordable price. Attend “Wine, Women and Song” with Alan Mann, artistic director, and featuring an ensemble of exciting opera singers at The Woodwinds Banquet Hall in Branford, CT, $75 per person ($25 tax-deductible). For more information and to make your reservations, visit operatheaterofct.org at this link or call the OTC office at (860) 669-8999.
Italian-American Defense League Meeting – Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 PM
The meeting will take place in Woodbridge, Connecticut. Any IADL member is welcome to attend. Please RSVP by filling out the form using this link if you would like to register for this event. After you register, you will receive directions and an agenda before the meeting. This is a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals who value Italian heritage in an informal and welcoming atmosphere.
Legal Fund
IADL has 216 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
March past of the 'Garibaldi Guard' before President Lincoln and General Scott July 4, 1861
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – May 31, 2026 – Festa Della Repubblica
June 2nd is Italian Republic Day, known as “Festa della Repubblica” in Italian, not to be confused with Italian Unity Day of March 17th. The June celebration is a national holiday, similar to our Fourth of July in the United States, to commemorate the decision of the Italian people to choose a republic over a monarchy after WWII in 1946. Also related to WWII, this week in honor of D-Day, June 6, 1944, read about the battle for Italy. According to the National Army Museum of London, “For almost two years during the Second World War (1939-45), the Allies fought an attritional campaign in Italy against a resolute and skillful enemy. Far from being the ‘soft underbelly of Europe’, Italy became one of the war’s most exhausting campaigns.”
This week in Italian history:
- May 30, 1498: Christopher Columbus departed from Spain with six ships to begin his third expedition to the Americas, exploring the South American coast.
- June 2, 1946: The monumental Italian Institutional Referendum was held. Citizens chose a republic over the monarchy, and Italian women voted in a national election for the very first time.
- June 4, 1944: Allied forces liberated Rome during World War II, marking the first Axis capital to fall and pushing German forces further north.
Italian Heritage News
Dioceses across Cabrini’s pilgrimage route are using the film to prepare hearts and deepen the spiritual impact of the pilgrimage. For more information on how to schedule a screening in your diocese please contact: Rich Van Fossen – richvf@fxcabrini.com; Zachary DeCarlo – zachary@zcdadvisors.com
From Florence to Bogota by Truby Chiaviello
Italian Factor Arises in Presidential Election in Colombia, Dual Citizenship—A Campaign Issue
The Pride of Our Heritage: Gina Lollobrigida (published by Italian American Alliance)
An onscreen goddess of Hollywood’s “Golden Age” following WWII in Europe
WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) First Ever Premium Event Live in Turin, Italy Today
The European tour will visit Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, and the U.K. Friday Night SmackDown will visit Bologna, Italy on Friday, June 5.
Volpato makes Italy to Australia switch before World Cup
The 22-year-old midfielder was born and raised in Sydney but holds dual citizenship after moving to Italy in 2020 to join Roma's youth system. Italy did not qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
Italy bans Kanye West and Travis Scott concerts over security concerns
West has caused outrage for a string of antisemitic, racist and pro-Nazi comments that recently led to him being banned from entering the UK.
Columbus Fountain in DC flows again after nearly two decades
The fountain at Union Station in Washington, D.C. stopped working in 2007 and finally has been fixed.
The Legendary Nao Santo Maria Drops Anchor in Cork, Ireland for the First Time
The Nao Santa María, a historical replica of the flagship used by Christopher Columbus during his 1492 voyage, is sailing the seas of Northern Europe.
Italian-American Events
Opera Theater of Connecticut Gala Wine Tasting: Wine, Women, and Song – Sunday, June 14, 2026, 5pm to 7:30pm
Opera was invented in Florence at the end of the sixteenth century and is intrinsically woven into Italy’s cultural identity. Here, Opera Theater of Connecticut brings the art form to modern audiences with high quality performances at an affordable price. Attend “Wine, Women and Song” with Alan Mann, artistic director, and featuring an ensemble of exciting opera singers at The Woodwinds Banquet Hall in Branford, CT, $75 per person ($25 tax-deductible). For more information and to make your reservations, visit operatheaterofct.org or call the OTC office at (860) 669-8999.
Italian Language Classes Online – Register ASAP
The Italian Center in Carmichael, California is offering online ZOOM and in-person Italian language classes. Session I Summer classes begin on June 15, 2026, and Session II summer classes begin on August 3, 2026. All the information you need to take advantage of this opportunity can be found at this link.
Legal Fund
IADL has 216 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
Festa della Repubblica
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – May 24, 2026 – Awards Speech and Happy Memorial Day
Matthew Guarnieri, president of the Italian-American Defense League, and member of OSDIA, accepted the Distinguished Citizens Award at Woodwinds in Branford, Connecticut on May 20, 2026. Other honorees included Gerard Acampora and John Tullo. Matthew is a long time educator and founder of the IADL. Gerard is a long time pharmacist and owner of one of the last locally owned pharmacies in Connecticut. John is a 27 year veteran of the Connecticut Air National Guard and high school referee. Frank Grazioso, former Connecticut OSDIA president introduced Matthew and Susan Velleca, current OSDIA of North Haven president presented the award. Below is a transcript of the acceptance speech and here is a video of the speech on IADL’s YouTube channel.
Frank, thank you for your kind words and warm introduction. It is an honor to stand beside you. When I was researching the Columbus Day Parade in New Haven, I found a photo of Frank in a convertible in 1950. He is a living legend. It is also an honor to be standing in the room with the other guests who have contributed so much to our heritage and our country.
Now to Frank Mentone, the Vellecas, honorees, OSDIA president, past presidents, and the Sons and Daughters of Italy, it is an honor to accept this prestigious award with much appreciation and gratitude.
This moment is an incredible moment, part of a life’s journey. And just like every significant moment of my life, I am sharing it with family and extended family. Through the ups and downs of life, my family is always there. It’s an Italian thing. Their story is my story, and that is why I would like to recognize them today.
I’ve known for a long time, without my wife Mary and her unwavering support to our family and dedication to our children, my accomplishments would be minimal. Her faith and nurturing have impacted three children, Matthew, Lily, and Ana, who impress me with wisdom beyond their years. I would be nothing today without her love, support, and strength.
My deep appreciation of Italian heritage grew from watching my parents - My mother who was sent to New Haven for a better life, alone at age 14 and my father who is the first college graduate in my family. They have been models of humility and resilience.
I do have to mention my Godfather, who has given me the ability to decipher any Italian accent and my Godmother who has been my mother’s friend since the early days of my mother’s arrival in America. My cousin Tammy is her today, a veteran and now a nurse. And my cousin Tyson, who is an eligible bachelor . . . I had to embarrass him.
I cannot even call my in-laws, INLAWS. They’re a second set of parents. Although they are not Italian by blood, my mother-in-law has lived in East Haven her entire life and my father-in-law moved to East Haven after growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina. I guess that makes the two of them Southern Italian.
To the Board of Directors and members of the Italian-American Defense League, when the Italian American voice was ignored and belittled in 2020, we formed. This distinguished group has included veterans, doctors, attorneys, builders, business owners, and educators. Their fortitude has helped build a coalition of Italian heritage organizations in Connecticut that had never collaborated before. Together, we will continue to advocate for an Italian heritage commission in Connecticut and the adoption of an Italian heritage curriculum in public schools.
In addition to creating the IADL, tonight I am announcing a new initiative . . . the formation of American Italians United to purchase and relocate monuments that have been locked up far too long. We are Americans first who want to preserve Italian American history. Let’s work on this initiative together.
Brother Knights who join us today, when Italian Catholics did not have a home, an Irish Catholic Organization called the Knights of Columbus had a motto, “Welcome all.” That spirit of inclusion included Italian Americans, when we were considered second class citizens in the first half of the twentieth century. If we had more men in positions of power called to a life of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism, who embrace a true spirit of inclusion, the tearing down of Italian statues would have never taken place. Talk to the men at that table tonight to learn more and how to join.
Let me end my remarks today by talking about Italian American values. When I think of those values, I think of Olympic runner and Airman Louis Zamparini from Torrance, California. Zamparini survived more than 40 days on a raft after being shot down over the Pacific during World War II. He endured slave labor and torture as a prisoner of war. When he was brought to Tokyo, his captors offered him more humane living conditions; Zamparini refused. Why? They wanted Zamparini to record an anti-American radio broadcast. After the refusal, Zamparini returned to his torture and slave labor.
Zamparini reminds us that character is not built through comfort, but through sacrifice, responsibility, and love of family, faith, and country.
I am here tonight because of a deep respect for the people who literally and figuratively paved the way for us. We are at the crossroads. Whose values do we want to embrace? Which path do we want to take? When I look around this room, I see the values that define our heritage: Family, Faith, and Fortitude. Those values built our communities, strengthened our families, and carried generations through hardship and sacrifice. Those are the values passed down by the generations who came before us, and those are the values we must continue to preserve and honor today. This award is not just for me — it is for all of us.
Happy Memorial Day
The number of soldiers of Italian descent in the US Armed Forces during WWII are estimated to be 1.5 million. During the war, up to 3 percent of the world’s population were killed. From North Africa to the Italian campaign, from the beaches of Normandy to Berlin, and to the Pacific, people of Italian descent saved the world. Read these hero's stories in detail here. In addition, here is a list of Italian-American Medal of Honor recipients. As we remember fallen heroes of long ago and today, have a meaningful Memorial Day!
Next, read the reflection of John Cervone, IADL member and veteran, who shares his thoughts about serving our country as an Italian American. To me, Cervone’s words give me light to understand why the fallen were willing to risk their lives which led to their ultimate sacrifice.
America the Beautiful
I witnessed the fall of America in 1969 when I returned home from Vietnam to be vilified by my own people. The young ones were throwing rocks at us and the old ones were too busy making money to even pay attention to us. Something I did notice was that the Italian American community was very kind to us and the hate towards us was not coming from many of them. I stayed in the military full and part time for the next thirty years and I never regretted it.
The bedrock of my enduring patriotism was not an abstract concept, but a tangible legacy, meticulously forged and deeply ingrained by the unwavering convictions of my Italian American parents. They cultivated within me a profound appreciation for America’s foundational ideals, presenting this nation not merely as a place of residence, but as a sacred trust, an unparalleled sanctuary where liberty was not just an intellectual concept, but a vibrant, lived experience. For them, the United States embodied the ultimate promise: a land where the freedom to live authentically, express oneself openly, and pursue one's aspirations without impediment were not just promises, but the very cornerstones of existence.
Their profound devotion transcended mere words, manifesting in extraordinary personal sacrifices during one of history's most tumultuous periods. My father, embodying resolute courage, served valiantly in the unforgiving Pacific theater, dedicating his very being to the defense of the freedoms we cherish. Concurrently, my mother, a woman of formidable spirit, made indispensable contributions to the war effort on the home front through her vital work in civil service. This was a truly remarkable achievement and a powerful testament to her unwavering loyalty and exceptional capability, especially considering the societal barriers and biases many Italian Americans faced in securing such prominent roles during that era.
Their collective actions – a testament to fierce patriotism and an unyielding belief in the American dream, even in the face of prevailing adversities – profoundly shaped my own life's trajectory. This indelible influence ignited within me an unshakeable desire to serve my country. For over three decades, I proudly wore the uniform of this nation, dedicating myself to military service, and for more than twenty years, I contributed to its continued strength through civil service. These were not merely roles; they were my heartfelt endeavor to reciprocate the boundless generosity and opportunities this nation has always afforded me. My commitment to serving this extraordinary country, in any capacity I can, remains as steadfast as the values my parents instilled.
Italian Heritage News
We the Italians Magazine - May 2026
In this issue, Umberto Mucci talks about Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Piedmont, Apulia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Trentino Alto Adige, Umbria, Aosta Valley, Veneto and much, much more.
Novak Djokovic reacts to Jannik Sinner's career golden masters - Truly amazing
A golden masters in professional tennis has only been accomplished two times, winning nine specific tournaments on a variety of surfaces.
With oxygen tanks too small for a deep dive, four divers and a rescuer ran out of air and time.
Italian-American Events
Scoppa Card Game Night– Friday, May 29, 2026
The Greater Hartford Chapter of UNICO National invites you to an Italian Card Game Night on Friday, May 29, 2026, at the Floridian Men’s Society. The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. and costs $30 per person, which includes dinner featuring pizza and more. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages, and soft drinks and espresso will be available for purchase. Join us for a fun evening playing the traditional Italian card game Scopa. Even if you’ve never played before, experienced players will be available to provide lessons. Reservations must be made by May 25, 2026, through a Greater Hartford UNICO member or by contacting Dan Falotico at 860-233-2138 or Dan@budget-printers.com .
Italian Language Classes Online – Register ASAP
The Italian Center in Carmichael, California is offering online ZOOM and in-person Italian language classes. Session I Summer classes begin on June 15, 2026, and Session II summer classes begin on August 3, 2026. All the information you need to take advantage of this opportunity can be found at this link.
Legal Fund
IADL has 216 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
IADL's Matthew Guarnieri receives OSDIA's distinguished citizens award on May 20, 2026.
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – May 17, 2026 – History Repeats itself in Syracuse
The Columbus Monument Corporation in Syracuse, New York, successfully challenged former Mayor Ben Walsh and kept the Christopher Columbus monument standing in Columbus Circle despite the administration’s attempts to remove it in 2020. Now under a new administration, Mayor Sharon F. Owens is playing the same cards that other far left mayors used to remove Columbus statues in Columbus, Ohio, New Haven, Connecticut, and other cities. A handpicked panel of so-called independent committee members are called to reimagine the space, seeking grants from nonprofits promulgating revisionist history. Like in other cities, the Mellon Foundation promotes its interests by using art to communicate its ideological agenda across the United States. A press release by the Columbus Monument Corporation states that Syracuse “has outsourced some of the dirty work to Forecast Public Art, a Minnesota-based consulting firm, to run a competition that is anything but competitive. Their process has been conducted entirely in the shadows. There was no public announcement and no call for artists in local news outlets. Indeed, the Syracuse artist community was intentionally left in the dark.”
The entire process appears rigged, reminding me of meetings by the Wooster Square Monument Committee in New Haven. Despite many speakers in favor of returning our Columbus statue to its plinth after its unjust removal, that possibility was never considered. Now history is repeating itself again in Syracuse with pro-Columbus advocates believing that "the outcome is pre-determined before a single design is even submitted." What can Columbus Monument Corporation learn from IADL’s lawsuit against New Haven? According to legal experts at Casemine, here are conclusions learned from our lawsuit.
Italian-American Defense League v. City of New Haven offers a two-part lesson. First, it persuasively recognizes that aesthetic harms stemming from the removal of a culturally meaningful monument can satisfy Article III’s injury-in-fact requirement when alleged by nearby residents who value and use the affected space. Second, it reaffirms that procedural due process is not a free-standing guarantee of notice and hearing; it attaches only when a plaintiff is deprived of a recognized property or liberty interest. Because the statue was City-owned property and residents have no constitutional liberty in maintaining neighborhood “quality,” the due process claim fails at the threshold.
As a nonprecedential summary order, the decision does not bind future panels, but it supplies useful guidance. For organizations defending cultural heritage, it illuminates a pathway to standing based on aesthetic and recreational harms. For municipalities, it underscores a robust limit: absent a protected interest, local governments retain broad discretion over their own property decisions without triggering federal due process requirements. The court thus draws a clear line between who may enter federal court and what claims can succeed once there.
Italian Heritage News
Electric Maritime by Truby Chiaviello
Italy Sees First Fully Electric Terminal Tractor for Port Operations. Contship Italia leads pilot program at La Spezia port
Four bystanders tackle knife-wielding driver after car plows into crowd in Italy
They tackled the vehicle’s driver and pulled him to the ground, after eight were injured. One woman pedestrian lost both legs in the attack.
Maldives suspends search for 4 Italians in underwater cave after military diver dies
The experienced divers pushed the recommended depth limits as their oxygen tanks appear to have malfunctioned.
Peacock ‘invasion’ of Italian seaside town ruffles feathers
Some are embracing the company of these featured creatures but others would like the flock to fly away.
Texas man accused of killing his wife was able to flee to Italy — allegedly on an Air Canada flight
Italian officials caught Texan Lee Gilley, accused of strangling his wife, with fake Belgian travel documents.
Italian-American Events
OSDIA North Haven Ceremonial Dinner – Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Italian-American Defense League reserved three tables with a total of thirty attendees. I look forward to this special event, sharing it with family and friends.
Italian Language Classes Online
The Italian Center in Carmichael, California is offering online ZOOM and in-person Italian language classes. Session I Summer classes begin on June 15, 2026, and Session II summer classes begin on August 3, 2026. All the information you need to take advantage of this opportunity can be found at this link.
Legal Fund
IADL has 216 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time!
Christopher Columbus Monument at Columbus Circle in Syracuse, New York
IADL Newsletter
IADL Newsletter – May 10, 2026 – Buona Festa della Mamma!
The second Sunday of May is Mother’s Day in the USA and Italy. Surprisingly, La Festa della Mamma was first celebrated in 1933 by the Fascist government to celebrate mothers raising good fascists. After WWII, Italians continued the American tradition, including exchanging greeting cards. Some attribute the holiday’s roots to ancient Rome’s goddesses. Of course, being that Mother’s Day is on Sunday, many Italians attend church and honor the blessed Mother who is held in the highest regard in the Roman Catholic Church. Like in the United States, Mother’s Day is a day to spend as a family, near or far, in person if possible or with a phone call at the minimum. Nowadays, video-conferencing apps like WhatsApp or Facebook messenger are popular to use during the holidays. Lastly, here is the first stanza of a poem in Italian and English by Edmondo De Amicis written for his mother.
Non sempre il tempo la beltà cancella
o la sfioran le lacrime e gli affanni:
mia madre ha sessant’anni,
e più la guardo e più mi sembra bella.
Time doesn’t always delete beauty
or tears and worries blemish it:
my mother is sixty years old,
and the more I look at her the more beautiful she seems.
Continue reading the poem at this link, “Se Fossi Pittore (If I Were A Painter.”
Italian Heritage News
Rudy Guiliani, known as America’s mayor after 9-11, suffered a health scare in a bout with pneumonia and entered the ICU in a Florida hospital. Since then, he left the ICU and remains in hospital care. John Cervone, IADL member and professional writer, reacted to recent criticisms of Guiliani, writing, “Does anyone else find it interesting how a great Italian American, the man who saved NYC after 9/11 has been denigrated by the same bureaucrats who cannot even shine his shoes. As Cher once sang, they are “gypsies tramps and thieves” and most importantly criminals. Rudy Guilani is an Italian American who did more for the city of New York than anyone else could have, and today, in his time of need, he’s forgotten. A criminal who had a rap sheet longer than my arm became a hero while Mr. Guilani is made out a bad guy. So much for American justice.” If you have an opinion, you’d like to share with IADL members, please email it to iadlnow@yahoo.com .
The Latest on Rudy
Gigi Hadid's woke half-sister celebrates Rudy Giuliani's illness in sickening video
Rudy Giuliani 'cracking jokes' as he makes stunning recovery from health scare: son
Rocky Has Entered the Building
The statue has long drawn fans to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, but now it’s inside, anchoring an exhibition that investigates race, activism and violence.
Popular Italian food brand accused of ‘tomato fraud’ in new lawsuit
Say it ain’t so! Cento defends its tomato sauce.
Viola Family Captures Kentucky Derby in Stunning Long Shot Victory
Golden Tempo is the 23-1 longshot that won the Kentucky Derby on May 2, 2026, co-owned by Florida Panthers owner Vincent “Vinnie” Viola of St. Elias Stables. This win marks the second Kentucky Derby victory for the Viola family, following their 2017 win with Always Dreaming. Their success in thoroughbred racing and two Stanley Cup championships in professional hockey, crown the Violas as the most successful Italian Americans in professional sports ownership.
From immigration to culture: the living legacy of the Coccia Family
The family’s foundation has focused on promoting awareness of Italian culture, history, and societal contributions, while also celebrating and preserving this heritage for future generations.
Italian-American Events
OSDIA North Haven Ceremonial Dinner – Wednesday, May 20, 2026
I was notified by Order Sons & Daughters of Italy in America, North Haven Lodge, that I will be recognized at their annual dinner along with Gerard Acampora and John Tullo. The invitation says, "This year, our ceremonial dinner will take place at Woodwinds, 29 School Ground Road, Branford, CT on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 5:30-9:30 pm. Tickets are $55.00 which will include hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and dessert." I will humbly accept the award on behalf of all of you and the Italian Americans who are dedicated to our mission of promoting education, portraying Italians positively, and preserving traditions. Please contact us if you would like to sit at IADL’s tables. We have 5 tickets left! We must give our final count on Monday, May 11. Contact us today to request your ticket.
Legal Fund
IADL has 216 members and 47 newsletter subscribers. With una voce, we can be heard! You can contribute to this GoFundMe or Zeffy (no fees) to fund our efforts to return the Columbus monument to Wooster Square in New Haven. Donate to IADL using this link. Zeffy charges NO FEES! 100% of your donations will go to the Italian-American Defense League
Stay in Touch
Website: https://iadlnow.org/
X: https://x.com/IADLPresident
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iadlnow/?hl=en
Member of COPOMIAO: https://copomiao.org/
Buy some merchandise in our online store!
Purchase IADL clothes, hats, and bags here. Also, you can purchase March 14, 1891, merchandise here to commemorate the New Orleans lynchings that led to the first national Columbus Day. 12% goes to the IADL!
Now is the time! - Matthew Guarnieri
La Festa della Mamma art from the website: Postcards from the Boot