L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020 www.italoamericano.org 14 L'Italo-Americano LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE D ear Read- ers, 1. June - Giugno usually is a happy month with weddings, birthdays, graduations and Father's Day (June 21), but due to the corona virus, it may NOT be so happy this year. Let's not forget the feast days of St. Efrem (June 9), St. Anthony (June 13) and St. Peter (June 29) and it was also on June 16, 2002 that Padre Pio be- came a newly minted Saint. 2 . I t a l i a n R e p u b l i c Day. On June 2, 1946, the year following the end of World War II, in a National Referendum, the Italians voted to abolish the monarchy and turn their nation into a Republic. For many months prior to the election in Italy, Italian newspaper editors in the United States, like Generoso Pope, Sr. in New York, urged thou- sands of "Il Progresso" readers to write to rela- tives in Italy and encour- age them to vote out monarchy and vote in "La Democrazia". Despite all the postal persuasion of their U.S. "paesani", the vote ending the monarchy was not a landslide but, in June 1946, the Italian Republic was proclaimed. 3 . G e n . G i u s e p p e Garibaldi died in June 1882. Giuseppe Garibaldi, "The Hero of two Worlds," fought for freedom and national independence in both Latin America and Europe. Garibaldi lived briefly as an immigrant in the United States and was asked by our 16th presi- dent A b r a h a m Lincoln to lead an army in the American Civil War, which he respectfully declined, but in 1982, which marked the 100th anniversary of his death, California joined a world- w i d e celebration of Garibaldi's memory by sponsoring a superb series of social and cultural events in his honor. 4 . A l l i e s t a k e Rome in WWII. On June 4, 1944 under the direc- tion of US General Mark Clark, commander of the Fifth Army, the Allies libe- rated Rome. Cheering crowds, throwing flowers and handing a round bot- tles of wine, celebrated the arrival of American and British troops as the Allies marched into Rome. President Roosevelt declared jubilantly: "The first Axis capital is in our hands. One up and two to go." 5. Gen. Italo Balbo, (1896-1940) Lead the first long distance flight in his- tory from Orbetto, Italy, to Chicago, in 1933 in 42 hours and 52 minutes. 6 . P e t e r R o d i n o , born in Italy in 1909, was the Congressman of the Judicial Committee which recommended the Articles of Impeachment against Pres. Richard M. Nixon. 7 . P i e t r o B o n a n n i (1792 - 1821) died June 1821 in Washington, DC The portrait, mural histor- ical and landscape painter was born in Carrara, Italy. He decorated half Dome like the old hall of the House of Representatives, now Saturday Hall, paint- ed in chiaroscuro so that it resembled the ceiling of the Pantheon in Rome. 8. Delano Columbus (1809-1896) was the first Italian American US Secretary of the Interior. He served 1870-1875. 9 . J o s e p h S t e l l a (1877-1946) one of America's great futuristic painters. In June 1929 Joseph Stella wrote about his return from Europe to his American patron: "Everybody here was astonished about the nov- elty and originally of my work and many would not believe that in America art can be developed along such purity of style. But I have told them that America is going to be in the lead in art, pretty soon. Only the young nations that have strength and will and dare in business enter- prises can be entitled to a rich art. So it happened with Venice, Florence and all the great cities when their financial strength was at high tide… " 10. St. Anthony died on June 13, 1231 at the age of thirty-six. On June 13th all the Antonios, Tony and Anthonys of the world can celebrate the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, a priest and gifted preacher born Advancing our Legacy: Italian Community Services CASA FUGAZI If you know of any senior of Italian descent in San Francisco needing assistance, please contact: ItalianCS.org | (415) 362-6423 | info@italiancs.com Italian Community Services continues to assist Bay Area Italian-American seniors and their families navigate and manage the resources needed to live healthy, independent and productive lives. Since Shelter-in-Place began in San Francisco, Italian Community Services has delivered over 240 meals, over 900 care packages and made over 2000 phone wellness checks for our seniors. in Lisbon, Portugal. His surname comes from the city of Padua, where he lived the later part of his life. Saint Anthony of Padua is also known as the "Finder of Lost Things." People ask Anthony's inter- cession with God when searching for lost articles. 1 1 . E t t o r e J . D e G r a z i a, a.k.a. Ted De Grazia was born in June 1909. He was a contempo- rary artist based in Tucson, Arizona, noted for his whimsical paintings of Indian children. In 1964 he began painting "Los ninos" on UNICEF Christmas cards to help raise funds for children worldwide. 1 2 . S . F . I t a l i a n Athletic Club first moved into their own building in J u n e 1 9 3 6, after three Italian Sport Clubs, formed many years before, merged and united to purchase land and build their own hall. The three clubs were Circolo Ricreativo Italiano, Unione Sportiva and Sporting Club Italia. Circolo Ricreativo Italiano Virtus was organi- zed in June 1917, and had clubrooms on Mason Street between Green and Vallejo Streets. Unione Sportiva Italiana formed in 1919, and was headquartered at 120 Columbus Ave. This group sponsored the first Statuto race in June 1919. Sporting Club Italia was established soon after, on Powell Street and Broadway. The clubs did not confine their activities to athletic events. Besides running, soccer, baseball, fencing, gymnastics and cycling, their members were also involved in drama, music and civic affairs. The clubs grew rapidly and the Unione Sportiva Italiana moved to larger quarters at Stockton and Green Streets above the Bank of America (Columbus Branch) and in 1959 moved to 1630 Stockton St. on Washington Square, in North Beach, with the US post office still a profitable tenant. "Grazie" to the members of three Italian athletic clubs that got together a long time ago. ***

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