IADL Newsletter

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!

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! 

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 

ALL HAIL CAESAR RODNEY!  The 250 Ride Celebrates an Italian American Founding Father Hit the Road for America’s Independence by Truby Chiaviello  

“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 

RELEASE THE STATUES:  Keeping Columbus Monuments in Storage Serves No One  We'll Take Them—Give Them to Us by Truby Chiaviello  

“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! 

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!!

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! 

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 

Washington's Columbus Fountain has been restored. Peronaci: "This is a moment of great satisfaction for Italy." - History/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. 

When a Mule Adored the Eucharist: How St. Anthony of Padua Proved Christ's Real Presence to a Heretic - Religion/Culture 

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! 

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. 

Mother Cabrini: First U.S. Citizen Canonized a Saint Dedicated Life to New York’s Italian Immigrant-Culture 

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!

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 

Cabrini Films Begins New Initiative to Bring the Movie to Your Local Parish to Transform the Hearts and Minds of Viewers to Become a Catalyst for Faith, Service, and Unity 

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! 

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. 

First images emerge of deadly Maldives cave showing the drastically reduced visibility that trapped 5 Italian scuba divers 

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! 

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!

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 took Gotham from the brink to the big time – America's mayor belongs in NYC's Hall of Fame 

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 

Thank you to the IADL members who attended the Circolo Sportivo fundraiser dinner in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  The inspiring event was a show of unity among Italian American organizations in the state.  Due to the success of the fundraiser with hundreds in attendance, we are optimistic that the removed Columbus statue will be able to be reinstalled in Bridgeport.  The monument was originally erected on October 10, 1965, and created by Sculptor Clemente Spampanato.  It was a memorial to Christopher Columbus that was dedicated by the citizens of Bridgeport. 

Recently an image of an arrow was added to a logo of the Washington Commanders of the National Football League.  This move comes after the July 2020 removal of the “Redskins” logo and team name from the football organization.  Since then, the Native American Guardian’s Association (NAGA) has been active in countering cancel culture.  Like Italian organizations, NAGA seeks to preserve its cultural identity and history.  That is why each month you are invited to join a Solidarity Session hosted by the Italian American One Voice Coalition and NAGA.   

In April, Becky Clayton-Anderson, President of NAGA, spoke about a number of areas and initiatives NAGA is busy with right now.  David Finkenbinder, VP of NAGA, responded to questions after Becky's presentation.  Additionally, Daniel Fuenzalida from Ohio Congressman Michael Rulli's office answered questions and participated in our discussions.  Finally, Tom Damigella informed attendees about the move to eliminate the image of the Native American from the state symbol of Massachusetts which has existed since 1898.  Watch a YouTube video of the session here and save the date for Tuesday, May 19th, the next meeting.  A link will be shared later this month. 

Italian Heritage News 

Statue supporters demand transparency in contest to redesign Columbus Circle 

The Columbus Monument Corporation questions the process which likely has a predetermined outcome of removing the Columbus monument. 

Book Preview: “Educating America and the Contributions of Italian Americans” 

Italian American educators have made a positive impact on American education which includes providing opportunities and upward mobility for Italian immigrants. 

Students explore anatomy and culture through Italian embedded course 

Penn State University students learn about medicine and culture in a cooperative program with the University of Bologna. 

U.S. and Italy Honor Alliance to Curb Art Looting, Amid Broader Tensions 

Italy, with the partnership of the United States, is reclaiming lost artifacts. 

FBI Boston Recovers 17th Century Reliquary Urn Stolen from Italian Church 

The urn is one of seventeen artifacts stolen from Church of San Michele Arcangelo di Cangiano. 

Alex Zanardi, Italian Auto Racing Champion-Turned-Paralympic Gold Medalist, Dies At 59 

The beloved race car driver passed away after a life of exemplifying appreciation of God’s blessings despite losing both legs in an accident. 

Career Opportunity at United Airlines  

United Airlines is recruiting Italian-speaking flight attendants saying, “This role is perfect for those who love people, love adventure, and want a career that literally takes them around the world.”  You can find more information on United’s website here. 

Italian-American Events 

Italian Heritage Curriculum Virtual Professional Development – for all but geared toward educators 

The New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission (NJIHC) will host a Virtual Professional Development Day on May 9, 2026 from 9:00am – 10:30am offering a 90-minute webinar designed to introduce educators to its comprehensive, standards-aligned curriculum for grades 8–12.  Register here. 

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. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 215 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! 

Italian Liberation Day on April 25th, a day of national unity, instead for some was a day of protest and violence, including representatives of the Jewish Brigade and Iranians who were forced to move by far-left extremists and two couples who were injured by shots from a pellet gun.  Davide Romano, director of the Jewish Brigade Museum, responded to the extremists who blocked the marchers by saying, "This was an intolerable act that cannot and must not be ignored. What happened today is not only a violation of the rights of the Jewish and Iranian world, but a grave institutional and constitutional wound." He added that April 25th "cannot become a celebration of extremism and exclusion."  The injured couples who were walking to a bar are members of the National Association of Italian Partisans and were targeted by a man on a scooter wearing a military vest.  Despite a couple of incidents which public figures condemned, Prime Minister Georgia Meloni said, “Let it be time for national unity,” on a day that included 100,000 celebrants in Milan and thousands in Rome.  April 25th is Liberation Day in Italy, known in Italian as “Festa della Liberazione.”  The national holiday commemorates the national broadcast and call for an uprising against the Fascist regime and Nazi occupation during World War II, essentially a call for a civil war.  Read more about this holiday  and listen to the song “Bella Ciao,” the song of the resistance.” 

Career Opportunity 

United Airlines contacted Italian-American Defense League recruiting Italian-speaking flight attendants saying, “this role is perfect for those who love people, love adventure, and want a career that literally takes them around the world.  You can find more information on United’s website here.  This is an example of how our organization is not only about honoring our past but sharing meaningful opportunities for members today!   

Italian Heritage News 

We the Italians – Free Online Magazine 

Thank you to Umberto Mucci for providing us free access to the April 2026 issue featuring articles about Abruzzo, Apulia, Basilicata, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio, Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Piedmont, Sardinia, Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto and much, much more.   Complete this “We the Italians” survey so your voice is heard regarding Italy’s influence on America in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary. 

Escape in Naples by Truby Chiaviello 

Bank Robbers Elude Capture Via City’s Ancient Underground Accomplice—Napoli Sotterranea 

Back to the Moon: Italy’s Strategic Role in NASA’s Artemis Missions 

Italy is one of NASA’s strategic partners to land the next astronauts on the moon. 

AGBO Announces 2026 Grant Recipients Of Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker ForumRead a description about each of the film projects that were awarded a $10,000 grant. 

Italy underwhelmed by Trump envoy's suggestion they should replace Iran at World Cup 

Italy doesn’t feel like they earned a spot even if an opening into the tournament becomes available. 

Italian-American Events 

Join Italian-American Defense League at Circolo Sportivo – Italo Americano – Monday, April 27, 2026 

Like IADL, the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport believes in historical preservation.  This fundraiser dinner, $50 per person, will go towards the restoration of Bridgeport’s Columbus statue.  If you want to see the difference your donation makes, this is a fundraiser you do not want to miss.  We would like you to sit at IADL’s table, so please contact us if you’d like to attend.   The dinner begins at 6PM at 2500 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.  Two tickets are available for IADL’s table of ten!  Contact us ASAP to reserve a ticket. 

Italian Heritage Curriculum Virtual Professional Development – for all but geared toward educators 

The New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission (NJIHC) will host a Virtual Professional Development Day on May 9, 2026 from 9:00am – 10:30am offering a 90-minute webinar designed to introduce educators to its comprehensive, standards-aligned curriculum for grades 8–12.  Register here. 

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.  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 attend or if you have any questions. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 215 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! 

As an ambassador to the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission, I was asked to share the following information about an upcoming professional development webinar tailored for grade 8 –12 educators or curriculum specialists, but welcome to all who are interested in the topic.  New Jersey already formed an Italian Heritage Commission at the state level and adopted an Italian heritage curriculum.  The IADL with other stakeholders in Connecticut are seeking to accomplish similar goals in Connecticut.  

If you are an educator or know of one, share this information with them.  They can learn more at https://www.njitalianheritage.org/ and can sign up for the webinar here.  The more people who know about the high-quality work ongoing in New Jersey, the better chance we can bring their successes to Connecticut by forming an Italian Heritage Commission of our own.  Then the commission can have a seat at the table at the state level and recommend an Italian heritage curriculum in the Nutmeg state.  If you want to influence what happens in Connecticut, learn about the curriculum by attending the webinar. 

From the desk of the New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission 

Please share our upcoming Professional Development webinar with your networks. (Open to all - geared for educators.)  

INFO:  

The New Jersey Italian Heritage Commission (NJIHC) will host a Virtual Professional Development Day on May 9, 2026 from 9:00am – 10:30am offering a 90-minute webinar designed to introduce educators to its comprehensive, standards-aligned curriculum for grades 8–12. 

Established by the State of New Jersey, the NJIHC is committed to confronting longstanding stereotypes and historical discrimination directed toward Italians and Italian Americans while promoting accurate, scholarly understanding of their cultural, intellectual, and civic contributions. This professional development program reflects the Commission’s mission to provide educators with meaningful, historically grounded resources for classroom instruction. 

The webinar will provide participants with a structured introduction to NJIHC curriculum materials, demonstrating how lessons integrate classical history, American political thought, immigration history, and the achievements of Italian and Italian American women. Educators will gain practical guidance on lesson objectives, classroom implementation, and student-centered project design. 

Program Highlights Include: 

• Exploration of the Roman foundations of republican government and their influence on the American Founding 
• Examination of the intellectual contributions of Italian political thinkers to Western constitutional development 
• Lessons highlighting the achievements of Italian and Italian American women across religion, education, science, and public life 
• Instructional strategies for inquiry-based learning and student research projects 
• Curriculum resources that challenge stereotypes while presenting rigorous historical scholarship 

The program will be led by Kevin T. Brady, Ph.D., who will guide participants through two core sections: 

Section I: The Roman Legacy and the American Founding (45 minutes)
This segment explores the enduring influence of Roman political thought on American democracy, including lessons on Cato, Cicero, John Adams, and the structural parallels between Roman and American republican systems. It also examines the intellectual role of women, including Abigail Adams, within the broader context of classical education. 

Section II: Italian and Italian American Women Who Changed the World (45 minutes)
This section highlights influential figures such as Mother Cabrini, Maria Montessori, Giorgia Meloni, Samantha Cristoforetti, and Josephine Margaret Bakhita, with a focus on both historical context and practical classroom implementation. 

Educators will leave the session equipped with ready-to-use materials and strategies aligned with New Jersey Student Learning Standards, enabling them to bring inclusive, content-rich instruction into their classrooms. 

Event Details:
Date: May 9, 2026
Time: 9:00am – 10:30am
Format: Virtual Webinar
Duration: 90 minutes
Audience: Grades 8–12 Educators 

This professional development opportunity underscores the NJIHC’s continued commitment to advancing education through historically accurate, inclusive, and engaging curriculum resources. 

REGISTER HERE: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_VMHSOhI3QbOk0uxn9Tx6Gw 

Italian Heritage News 

Robbery by Remote: Italian Soccer Star Donnarumma Robbed in Paris
Criminal Mastermind—“Ganito”—Managed Heist from Jail - By Truby Chiaviello 

This heist seems more the work of fiction than reality but has real-life consequences for this Italian celebrity. 

National Italian American Foundation Sells Gilded Age D.C. Mansion for $3.4 Million – By Chava Gourarie 

The 1907 house in Washington’s historic Dupont Circle is headed for redevelopment into a boutique condo building. 

Code-name Renata: Army honors 102-year-old Italian woman who parachuted into history – By Chad Garland 

She parachuted into the Nazi-occupied area, becoming the first Italian woman to make a combat jump. 

What Americans Get Wrong About Italian Culture – By Adria Meadvin 

From an abroad student’s perspective 

Italian-American Events 

Join Italian-American Defense League at Circolo Sportivo – Italo Americano – Monday, April 27, 2026 

Like IADL, the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport believes in historical preservation.  This fundraiser dinner, $50 per person, will go towards the restoration of Bridgeport’s Columbus statue.  If you want to see the difference your donation makes, this is a fundraiser you do not want to miss.  We would like you to sit at IADL’s table, so please contact us if you’d like to attend.   The dinner begins at 6PM at 2500 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.  One more ticket is available for IADL’s table of ten!  Contact us ASAP to reserve the ticket. 

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.  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 attend or if you have any questions. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 212 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! 

“Dad, my teacher said Christopher Columbus didn’t discover America and he cut off people’s hands.”  I’m not the first Italian American to hear of false accusations about Columbus that were shared with their children at school.  We know that beginning in the 1980’s, Howard Zinn, a member of Communist Party USA, promoted a history of hatred against the United States by characterizing each key moment of Western Civilization in a negative light, beginning with Christopher Columbus.  From his pulpit at Boston University, Zinn became a star of the academic world, twisting the teaching of American history and cultivating generations of social justice warriors with a minimal understanding of history.  My child continued by saying, “Can you help me do research, so I can show my teacher that she is wrong about Columbus?”  That was music to my ears, but as I tried to navigate to websites, including the New Jersey Heritage Commission, the Christopher Columbus Project, and Official Christopher Columbus, they were blocked on my child’s school issued Chromebook.  As I sighed, no longer in disbelief after many years addressing revisionism in modern society, I decided to try the Howard Zinn Foundation’s website.  Of course, it wasn’t blocked!  Would dad take care of this issue like I’ve done in the past, or would I empower my child to research and address the issue independently?  This time, I chose the latter. 

My child still is young and optimistic, determined to change the teacher’s opinion by creating a slide presentation setting Columbus’s record straight.  With the websites blocked, and realizing the many historical accounts and books that I own are far above my child’s reading level, I needed Plan B.  Then I remembered about Rafael Ortiz’s book: Christopher Columbus The Hero:: Defending Columbus from Modern-Day Revisionism and Christopher Columbus: The Hero picture book with illustrations by Kevin Cantrell.  My child quickly found the table of contents and flipped to the chapter titled, Discover, not “Discoverer,” and then to the chapter, The Cutting of Hands. After proclaiming, “This is so cool, there is an answer for everything my teacher and friends said about Columbus.  I am going to take this and read it to them at lunch!”   Here is what was discovered on page 22.  (Even though the following words were already there and known by Rafael Ortiz, my child and I didn’t know the words were there, so we discovered them.) 

1. Columbus discovered and proved that one can sail safely and straight from Spain (or Europe) to the other side. (Chapter 3) 

2. Because of him, and him alone, it was later discovered that they were on another continent, and not in Asia. (Chapter 3) 

3. Columbus is the one who brought two different worlds back together, and hundreds of years of lost communication. (Chapter 3) 

4. He, and those who follow after him, discovered people and lands the Old World did not know existed. (Chapter 3) 

5. Columbus was the first European to explore the Caribbean, and probably the first European to reach Central America, including Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panamá and Venezuela in South America. (Chapter 3) 

6. So when revisionists quote, “they would cut an Indian’s hand and leave them dangling by a shred of skin,” they are actually jumping timelines either purposely, or just by ignorance.  They are quoting events that took place years after Columbus.  (Chapter 19) 

I discovered that Rafael Ortiz’s first book can be used as a User’s Manual against revisionism.  My child did report that the teacher was impressed by all of Ortiz’s sources.  Unlike Zinn!  Maybe we didn’t change the teacher’s mind, but at least we opened her eyes to another perspective.  I thought this story is worthy of sharing because it reminds me that the preservation of Italian heritage is not only our battle, but one of future generations, one person at a time.  We will succeed, and it all starts in our own homes. 

Italian Heritage News 

Best 8-minute video that explains the importance of Columbus monuments and Columbus Day: A must watch! 

Listen to IAOVC’s Andre Dimino in a television interview regarding the installment of a Columbus statue on White House grounds.  He talks about Columbus’s legacy, the history of the federal holiday, and our relationship with the Native American Guardian’s Association. 

Frank Cipolla’s “A Secret Story”  

The TV reporter tells the story of internment of Italian Americans during World War II in this 12-minute news story that aired in 2019.  Cipolla spoke at last month’s “Solidarity Session,” which you can browse and watch here. 

PUT COLUMBUS BACK IN COLUMBUS: Italian American Groups File Lawsuit.  Plaintiffs Seek to Reinstall Columbus Monument in Columbus, Ohio 

Truby Chiaviello of Primo Magazine explains the unified effort of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations and other groups in their quest to reinstall a historical and cultural icon of Italian heritage. 

Lots of Italy in Houston, Capital of Italian Creativity in the World for 2026 

Mauro Lorenzini, Consul General of Italy in Houston, describes Houston as a hub of Italian culture.  Nearby Galveston is the home of U.S. Ambassador to Rome, Tilman Fertitta.  The area is also welcoming to Italian businesses, innovation and creativity. 

Fans Shocked as Beloved New Haven Pizzeria Closes in Plantation 

Pepe’s Pizza shuts its doors permanently at its Plantation, Florida location. 

What Is ‘Nonnamaxxing’? The Italian Grandma Lifestyle Might Be the Secret to Longevity 

If you would like to live a long and happy life, live like a Nonna! 

French far-right leader romantically linked to Italian princess 

The 22-year-old duchess descending from royal house of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, which ruled Sicily and southern Italy in the 19th Century, also has French heritage.  Maria Carolina, also known as a socialite, is in the spotlight of Italian gossip news. 

Italian-American Events 

Join Italian-American Defense League at Circolo Sportivo – Italo Americano – Monday, April 27, 2026 

Like IADL, the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport believes in historical preservation.  This fundraiser dinner, $50 per person, will go towards the restoration of Bridgeport’s Columbus statue.  If you want to see the difference your donation makes, this is a fundraiser you do not want to miss.  We would like you to sit at IADL’s table, so please contact us if you’d like to attend.   The dinner begins at 6PM at 2500 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.  One more ticket is available for IADL’s table of ten!  Contact us ASAP to reserve the ticket. 

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.  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 attend or if you have any questions. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 212 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/ 

Defending Columbus From Modern-Day Revisionism

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! 

Easter in Italy meets at the intersection of religion, culture, and tradition.  Although many Italian Americans feel the nostalgia of their parent, grandparent, or even great-grand parents’ cultural traditions of the past, Italians and Catholics participate in vibrant and meaningful Holy Week traditions today on the peninsula.  On Good Friday at the Roman Colosseum, Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross to the 14 stations of the cross.  The most traditional “Way of the Cross” was written by St. Alphonsus Liguori in 1761 and is commonly used to reflect about Jesus’s passion preceding his crucifixion and death. 

At St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV celebrated the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night.  During Easter vigil masses around the world, the Church welcomes newly baptized converts as full members of Catholicism.  On Holy Saturday, Jesus descended into Hell and to raise righteous and just dead who came before him, carrying their souls to Heaven during the Resurrection on Easter Sunday. 

On Easter Sunday, Pasqua, Italian families celebrate the light of Jesus and his Resurrection.  In front of Il Duomo in Florence, onlookers will celebrate the light of Christ with a dazzling fireworks display in a 900-year-old tradition known as Scoppio del Carro.  The unique celebration includes a colombina, white dove, and pyrotechnics. 

The festivities do not end on Easter Sunday. Monday is Little Easter, or “La Pasquetta.”  On this National Holiday, Italian family and friends retreat to the mountains, beaches, and countryside.  There, they have barbeques and may even eat some leftovers, marking the arrival of a spring season that will last until the Pentecost, 50 days beginning with Easter Sunday. 

Italian Heritage News 

Italian Jannik Sinner beats Lehecka to complete Sunshine Double without dropping a set 

The Italian tennis star is the eighth man to win Indian Wells and Miami, known as the Sunshine Double. 

Geno Auriemma loses it: UConn's previously perfect season ends with coach's legacy-damaging meltdown 

Gino, for many in this country, you are the face of the “Italian-American male.”  You represent us.  Your competitive nature and work ethic are second to none.  Game after game, decade after decade, you’ve made us proud.  However, your reaction after this year’s Final Four loss let us down by feeding into the “hot-tempered” Italian stereotype. The lesson for your players is to win with humility and lose with grace, something to reach for next season that’s more important than wins. 

What's next for Italy? Why the new soccer federation president matters more than the new coach 

The Italian National Soccer Team is embarrassed again by failing to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in a row. 

Italy and Gattuso 'mutually terminate' contract 

The Azzurri are four-time World Cup champions but have not qualified for the tournament since 2014. 

ESPN should be ashamed of itself for referring to Gennaro Gattuso as Italy’s “boss” after the team’s World Cup failure.  In “Gennaro Gattuso steps down as Italy boss after World Cup failure,” by ESPN News Services, Gattusso is compared to a mob boss, when he should have been referred to as the head coach, feeding into the negative caricature of Italian males. No author of the article is listed, and I wonder if anti-Italianism is permitted by the Associated Press’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithm which may now generate articles. 

Connecticut Sun sold to Fertitta family, will relocate to Houston for 2027 season 

Billionaire Tilman Fertitta is currently serving as US Ambassador to Italy. Learn more about Fertitta’s appointment and Sicilian roots here. 

Italian-American Events 

Join Italian-American Defense League at Circolo Sportivo – Italo Americano – Monday, April 27, 2026 

Like IADL, the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport believes in historical preservation.  This fundraiser dinner, $50 per person, will go towards the restoration of Bridgeport’s Columbus statue.  If you want to see the difference your donation makes, this is a fundraiser you do not want to miss.  We would like you to sit at IADL’s table, so please contact us if you’d like to attend.   The dinner begins at 6PM at 2500 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.  One more ticket is available for IADL’s table of ten!  Contact us ASAP to reserve the ticket. 

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.  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 attend or if you have any questions. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 212 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, president of Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO) courageously leads us in preserving and expanding Italian American heritage in the United States.  Below, he updates us on his successful effort to install a statue of Christopher Columbus adjacent to the White House.  IADL is honored to be a member of COPOMIAO!  At the end of the letter, be sure to send President Donald J. Trump, a “thank you” for supporting us. 

Dear COPOMIAO Member, 

As you may now be aware, a beautiful statue of Christopher Columbus was placed on the grounds adjacent to the White House on Sunday.
 

I thought you would be interested in knowing the story that led up to this huge victory for our community.
 

The story began back in May of last year when I forwarded a letter to the President expressing our community’s thanks for his speaking out in support of Columbus Day and Columbus statues.
 

I had no reply until I received a call from a member of the White House staff in early October, which was prompted by our good friend Congressman Mike Rulli. The White House representative and I discussed ways in which we could resurrect Columbus’s legacy, including the possibility of placing a statue of Columbus in Washington DC.  I was asked if I would be able to locate a Columbus statue.
 

It was not easy to find one.  I initially reached out to COPOMIAO members whose statues had been taken down, but none were available since the cities in possession of those statues were refusing to release them.
 

So I decided to do some online research, and discovered that a replica had been made of the Columbus statue that had been destroyed in Baltimore and thrown into its harbor. 

Next the White House had to decide on a location for the statue, and an appropriate date to install it.
 

I lobbied for a location adjacent to the White House since that would elevate the stature of the Columbus statue.  The White House agreed.  So after some months of planning, on Sunday the statue was permanently placed in its new prominent location adjacent to the White House grounds, where it is readily visible to tourists on Pennsylvania Ave.
 

I received the attached letter from President Trump thanking COPOMIAO for its assistance in allowing this major event to become a reality.  This is a huge victory for the Italian American community, and it is further evidence of the clout and influence our organization has because of our ability to work together.
 

It is important that we reciprocate by expressing our thanks to President Trump for his support of Columbus Day, Columbus statues, and the placement of the statue on the White House Campus. We can do so, by pressing the link at the end of the Conference of Presidents email you received yesterday or click on the link below. The link accesses the Executive Branch through the Office of Presidential Correspondence.  On that link you can forward along a thank you message to the President.  Please take a few minutes to do so. We should also forward the Conference of Presidents email along to our members, asking them to read it and to also forward the President a thank you note. 

Click here to thank President Trump: 

Office of Presidential Correspondence 

Best Wishes, 

Basil 

Italian Heritage News 

Next read President Trump’s letter to Basil Russo. 

Dear Basil, 

I send my thanks to you and the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations for your incredible generosity in gifting the Federal Government a beautiful statue of Christopher Columbus. The statue is now residing on the north side of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House campus. 

Christopher Columbus was the original American hero and one of the most gallant and visionary men to ever walk the face of the Earth. Guided by steadfast prayer and unwavering fortitude and resolve, Columbus' voyage in 1492 carried thousands of years of wisdom, philosophy, reason, and culture across the Atlantic into the Americas-paving the way for the ultimate triumph of Western civilization less than three centuries later on July 4, 1776. 

As you know, the statue you generously gifted is an exact replica of the Columbus statue that stood for more than three decades in the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland-from when it was first dedicated by President Ronald Reagan in October 1984 until it was torn down by anti American rioters and thrown into the harbor on July 4, 2020. I am truly honored that this magnificent statue will now sit on the grounds of the White House. 

The statue was placed on the White House campus together with a second statue titled Freedom's Charge, a life-size sculpture representing the revolutionary struggle to win America's independence. These statues represent the inspiring historical progression of the American story and will stand as an eternal memorial to courage, adventure, and the noblest aspirations of the human spirit as well as the extraordinary pride of our wonderful Italian American community. 

Thank you once again for the tremendous generosity of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America. 

Sincerely, 

Donald J. Trump 

Italian-American Events 

Join Italian-American Defense League at Circolo Sportivo – Italo Americano – Monday, April 27, 2026 

Like IADL, the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport believes in historical preservation.  This fundraiser dinner, $50 per person, will go towards the restoration of Bridgeport’s Columbus statue.  If you want to see the difference your donation makes, this is a fundraiser you do not want to miss.  We would like you to sit at IADL’s table, so please contact us if you’d like to attend.   The dinner begins at 6PM at 2500 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604.  One more ticket is available for IADL’s table of ten!  Contact us ASAP to reserve the ticket. 

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.  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 attend or if you have any questions. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 212 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! 

March 19th was Saint Joseph’s Day, also known as La Festa di San Giuseppe and Father’s Day in Italy.  The holiday is known for St. Joseph’s Table, zeppole, and festivals.  Read about the tradition of Saint Joseph’s Table and about a feast rooted in Catholicism.  Did you know “onomastico” means “name day” in Italy?  A name day honors the feast day of the Saint with your name.  Anybody with the name “Joseph” also had their name day.  Watch this video about an Italian bakery in Rhode Island that makes Zeppole! 

March 17th was not only St. Patrick’s Day, but also the anniversary of the unification of Italy, part of the time period known as the “risorgimento.”  Though it is not a national holiday, Italian Unity Day is celebrated annually in Italy.  Northern Italian Piedmontese, influenced by Giuseppe Mazzini, defeated the Austrians in 1859 and united most of modern-day Italy in 1861.  By 1870, the kingdom included Venice and Rome.  The most famous unifier is Giuseppe Garibaldi who after returning to the Italian peninsula from his exile in South America conquered Sicily and Naples.  

Italian Heritage News 

• It’s Luigi: Meet the Italian immigrant leading Amtrak’s Baltimore tunnel project 
• Two Dead, Seven Injured After Avalanche in Northern Italy 
• Emotional Antonelli ends 20-year wait for Italian F1 winner 
• Italian Tennis Star Sinner Cruises in Miami Open, Eyes Historic Double Win 
• 2,000-year-old artifact may be evidence that Romans found New World — a thousand years before Columbus 
• 'A new beginning': Indigenous sculpture unveiled at Bradley Park 
• The Camilli Family's Italian-American Sports Legacy: From boxing to baseball, the Camilli family's pursuit of athletic excellence spanned generations. 

Italian-American Events 

Join the Italian American One Voice Coalition and Native American Guardian’s Association at the next Solidarity Session on Tuesday, March 24 at 8PM. 

Register for the Zoom event here. The guest speaker is Frank Cipolla who had a distinguished career as a journalist, new anchor, and author.  He worked with Howard Stern and Don Imus. 

Italian-American Defense League Board Meeting –Thursday, March 26 – 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, March 26, 2026, at 6PM.  Please RSVP using this link, so we can plan appropriately. 

Join Italian-American Defense League at Circolo Sportivo – Italo Americano – Monday, April 27, 2026 

Like IADL, the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport believes in historical preservation.  This fundraiser dinner, $50 per person, will go towards the restoration of Bridgeport’s Columbus statue.  If you want to see the difference your donation makes, this is a fundraiser you do not want to miss.  We would like you to sit at IADL’s table, so please contact us if you’d like to attend.   The dinner begins at 6PM at 2500 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604. 

OSDIA North Haven Ceremonial Dinner – Save the Date – 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.  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 attend or if you have any questions. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 212 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! 

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, March 26, 2026, at 6PM.  Please RSVP using this link, so we can plan appropriately. 

Last Sunday was La Festa Della Donna, International Women’s Day.  In today’s newsletter, I would like to highlight the contributions of five Italian women who impacted the world.  The New Jersey Italian American Heritage Commission published five units about these women: Josephine Bakhita, Maria Montessori, Giorgia Meloni, Samantha Cristoforetti, and Mother Cabrini. Prior to the launch of the unit, I had the opportunity to review the lessons and provide feedback to the commission.  Be sure to click on the link to watch the videos that complement the lesson plans to learn about two saints, an educator, an astronaut, and a prime minister. 

Italian Heritage News 

Italy ruling tells millions with Italian roots they have lost the right to citizenship 

Italian court upholds law limiting Italian citizenship of descendants abroad. 

How Italy became the darlings (and contenders, too) of the World Baseball Classic 

The Italian Americans on Team Italy have become the underdog story of the World Baseball Classic. 

Newton neighborhood to be restored in Italian colors for good after ‘LineGate’ debacle 

With a new mayor, Italian Americans of Newton, Massachusetts, are able to bring reason and respect back to the community.  Congratulations to the Italian American Alliance for their successful effort! 

Diplomacy al dente: US withdraws anti-dumping duties on Italian pasta 

Tariffs on 13 Italian pasta exporters are lifted relieving financial burden of the companies and customers at the bottom of the supply chain. 

Wooster Square Restaurant Plan Prompts Parking Pushback 

The Albanian brothers who learned their craft and lived in Napoli are ready to expand in New Haven. 

Italian American Events 

Join Italian-American Defense League at Circolo Sportivo – Italo Americano – Monday, April 27, 2026 

Like IADL, the Council of Italian American Societies of Greater Bridgeport believes in historical preservation.  This fundraiser dinner, $50 per person, will go towards the restoration of Bridgeport’s Columbus statue.  If you want to see the difference your donation makes, this is a fundraiser you do not want to miss.  We would like you to sit at IADL’s table, so please contact us if you’d like to attend.   The dinner begins at 6PM at 2500 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604. 

OSDIA North Haven Ceremonial Dinner – Save the Date – 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.  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 attend or if you have any questions. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 212 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! 

A presto!

I’m sure you’ve viewed the memes online.  Was St. Patrick really Italian as many social media posts claim?  From my online research, academics agree that St. Patrick was not born on the Italian peninsula and was most likely born in Britain.  At that time in 385, Britain was controlled by the Roman empire, and his parents were considered Roman citizens and likely of Roman descent.  St. Patrick’s father’s name was Capurnius and he was a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church.  His grandfather’s name was Potitus and he was a priest.  St. Patrick’s birthname was likely Celtic, but he took the name Patricius, meaning “nobleman,” which he wrote in Latin on a surviving document.  Even though it is possible that St. Patrick spent some time studying religion in Italy, he spent most of his life in Ireland after being captured by Irish raiders and enslaved for six years.  St. Patrick is an Irish Catholic legend and modern cultural icon, but undoubtedly Patricius is a product of Roman Catholic ancestry.  Does that make him Italian in a modern sense?  Probably not.  But surely, this dive into history reveals that the prequel to his story began in Italy. 

March 14, 1891 lynchings were a catalyst for Columbus monument 

The words cast on the plaque of Wooster Square’s Columbus Monument were “A Cristoforo Colombo Gl’ Italiani di New Haven.”  The Italians of New Haven erected the Columbus Monument in 1892 after violence and lynchings against Italian immigrants in West Virginia and New Orleans.  In the aftermath of the New Orleans lynchings of 11 Italian immigrants on March 14, 1891, a group of prominent Italian men from New Haven met and denounced the lynchings.  The energy at that meeting was the catalyst for the planning and preparation of the events to follow. 

On Oct. 11, 1892, thousands at the Columbus Day parade lined the streets of New Haven for miles, including members of civic organizations from throughout the city. Two days later, the hands of Italians laid the cornerstone, and the Columbus statue was dedicated a little more than a week later on the 21st.  Paul Russo, representing United Italian Societies, also a banker and the first Italian to earn a degree from Yale Law School, dedicated the monument to Christopher Columbus on Oct. 21, 1892. The statue, fully funded by Italian residents, faced Long Island Sound, the route to the New World.  Columbus set the path for New Haven Italians to follow to the Land of Opportunity, and they admired him for his faith, courage, and spirit of enlightenment. 

Without a strong national identity in Italy and living in the tenements of “Little Naples” in Wooster Square, 1892 marked an important date.  It was the first time Italians felt part of a nation, part of America, because it was one of their own, Christopher Columbus, who connected two worlds 400 years earlier.  Children across the United States pledged their allegiance to the flag for the first time on Columbus Day, 1892, showing its roots as a patriotic holiday. The Italians in Wooster Square championed the anniversary in New Haven with visitors from every part of the state. 

The Wooster Square Columbus Monument marked two moments in history, 1492 and 1892.  We are the beneficiaries of the New Haven Italians of 1892, and it is our duty to honor their wishes to keep their Columbus monument erected in perpetuity.  On March 14th, although the statue remains hidden from public view, let’s not ever forget the eleven Italians who were lynched on that date and our ancestors who honored their memory. 

Italian Heritage News 

Connecticut's top Italian restaurants of 2026, according to Connecticut Magazine 

Here are the magazine’s top Italian restaurants from around the state. 

Trump’s strikes on Iran give Meloni a headache before Italy’s crunch referendum 

The Italian prime minister faces a difficult balancing act to preserve her alliance with her ally in the White House. 

The Italian job: Longtime Giants coaches Ron Wotus, Dave Righetti together again in WBC 

Righetti’s Italian heritage is intertwined with baseball like linguini around a fork. His father, Leo, was a shortstop who played in the Yankees’ minor-league system and Leo’s father, Marco, came from Cornice, a small village tucked in the Ligurian hills, and left on a ship from Genoa for the U.S. in 1907. 

Italian-American St. Joseph’s Parade in the French Quarter 

Italian and Irish cultures unite in New Orleans in March with many parades and festivities. 

Italian-American Events 

OSDIA North Haven Ceremonial Dinner – Save the Date – 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.  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 attend or if you have any questions. 

The Italian American Filmmakers Forum - Application Deadline – March 18 

The AGBO Foundation and the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) proudly announce that applications are open for the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF) 2026 Fellowship.  The annual initiative invites emerging filmmakers to develop original short films exploring the Italian American experience through culture, language, history, land, and identity.  Watch a video about fellowship here.  Click on this link to learn more and apply. 

Legal Fund 

IADL has 212 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! 

A presto!