L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2026 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano 2 T his year, June 2 will become a true pub- lic celebration. Italy m a r k s t h e 8 0 t h anniversary of the Republic, an institution found- ed on the principles of democ- racy, unity, freedom, and the values enshrined in the Consti- tution. For the occasion, the Quiri- nale has changed its approach. The traditional toast held in the Quirinale Gardens has been set aside in favor of a large public concert that will be broadcast on giant screens in town squares across the country. In one hun- dred Italian municipalities, images from the Republic's first eighty years will unfold like pages from a collective family album: from the 1946 referendum to the Years of Lead, the assassination of Aldo Moro, the Capaci and Via D'Amelio mafia bombings, and the Covid emergency. It will be a large-scale public event in which every page of that shared album will be accompanied by music and readings from authors who, in different ways, accompanied the story of June 2 celebrates Italy's Republic, which "is born and matures in the conscience of its citizens" From the Editor the Republic itself, from Alda Merini to Italo Calvino, from Rocco Scotellaro to Maurizio De Giovanni. The idea is to create a moment of collective memory and participation, something to be experienced together. The Republic is not an exclusive institutional event reserved for politicians or public officials, it is a celebration of Italians themselves, with their countless faces and stories. To mark the anniversary collectively in the virtual public squares of social media as well, the Presidency of the Republic launched an initiative inviting citizens to record short videos on their phones explaining what the Republic means to them personally. The aim is to encourage reflection on the meaning of the republican choice and on Italy's recent history, especial- ly among younger generations, gradually building a living archive of women and men from every region and every age group: the faces and voices of the Republic. As always, however, June 2 will remain faithful to its tradi- tional rituals. The day will begin with President Sergio Mattarella laying a wreath at the Altare della Patria, followed by the military parade along Via dei Fori Imperiali and ending with the spectacular flyover of the Frecce Tricolori. The aero- batic squadron also appears in the official logo created for the anniversary: a tricolor ribbon, twisting in a movement remi- niscent of an aerial maneuver, forms the number 80 while framing the tower of the Quirinale Palace. Even these public ceremonies are deeply tied to Italy's national history. June 2 officially became Republic Day in 1948, while the military parade along Via dei Fori Imperiali was formally introduced in 1950. In 1966, President Giuseppe Saragat delivered a memorable address summing up the achievements of the Republic's first twenty years. For the thirtieth anniversary in 1976, the tone changed noticeably when the parade was suspended in solidarity with the victims of the devastating earthquake that had just struck Friuli. Then, in March 1977, amid a difficult economic climate, the public holiday itself was temporarily moved to the first Sunday of June. The fortieth anniversary in 1986 and the fiftieth in 1996 became further opportunities for national reflection through special events and commemorative programs. It was not until June 2, 2001, under President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, that the holiday fully regained its official status and once again became a celebration of national identity in all its ceremonial signifi- cance. Across Italy, cities and towns organize ceremonies, con- certs, exhibitions, performances, and public events dedicated to the history and values of the Republic. Italian flags appear on public buildings and in town squares, creating an atmos- phere of national participation and celebration. As Alcide De Gasperi once said, "The Republic is born and matures in the conscience of every citizen." In a speech deliv- ered in Rome on May 11, 1946, and published the following day in Il Popolo, the founding father of the Italian Republic and one of the most influential European statesmen of the twentieth century declared: "A free and popular Republic is not born from a statute; it is born and matures in the conscience of every citizen. With- out personal conviction, without your commitment to assume the new responsibilities entrusted to you, the Republic cannot truly exist." His lesson remains as relevant today as ever: democracy survives only when democratic values are deeply internalized. A true democracy can only live through responsible and engaged citizens. Simone Schiavinato, Editor Simone Schiavinato NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Member of FUSIE (Federazione Unitaria Stampa Italianaall'Estero), COGITO L'Italo-Americano Please send correspondence to P.O. Box 40156 Pasadena CA 91114 www.italoamericano.org L'Italo-Americano Newspaper (a 501(c)(3) non- profit organization), www.italoamericano.org, is the largest and longest-running Italian news- paper in America, not to mention the cultural and news resource for all things Italian in the US. A bilingual newspaper which represents an historical landmark for the Italian American Communities in the West Coast and throughout the US. L'Italo-Americano benefits from subsidies by the Italian Government, Memberships and Donations intended to support and not interrupt a mission that began in 1908 to preserve and promote the Italian language and culture in the USA Periodicals postage paid at Monrovia, California 91016, and additional mailing offices. PUBLISHER Robert Barbera Grande Ufficiale EDITOR IN CHIEF Simone Schiavinato ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGER Patrick Abbate EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Barbara Minafra COPY EDITOR Francesca Bezzone LOS ANGELES CONTRIBUTOR Silvia Nittoli SAN FRANCISCO CONTRIBUTOR Serena Perfetto SEATTLE CONTRIBUTOR Rita Cipalla CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mariella Radaelli, Matt Walker, Francesca Bezzone, Luca Ferrari, Stefano Carnevali, Paula Reynolds, Teresa Di Fresco Nicoletta Curradi, Generoso D'Agnese, Jessica S. Levy, Fabrizio Del Bimbo, Maria Gloria, Chuck Pecoraro, Anthony Di Renzo Serena Perfetto, Kenneth Scambray, Chiara D'Alessio, Luca Signorini, Giulia Franceschini © 2025 L'Italo-Americano Membership: One year $59 - Single copy $2.25 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to L'Italo Americano P.O. Box 40156 Pasadena CA 91114 Selling Homes Throughout The Bay Area Adele Della Santina "The Right Realtor makes all the di昀erence." 650.400.4747 Adele.DellaSantina@compass.com www.AdeleDS.com DRE# 00911740 Expert in preparation, promotion, and negotiation!

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