Welcome to our web site! - The Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society of the Washington D.C. area was established in June 2000 by a small group of Abruzzesi and Molisani (natives and descendants of immigrants) who eventually settled in the Washington D.C. area.
Although the community of Italians and Italian Americans in the Washignton D.C. area is rather modest, it nonetheless has a relatively large number of Abruzzesi and Molisani who recognized the need to foster the cultural heritage of these two regions and of Italy in general.

The Society provides our members with the opportunity to preserve and share in the rich traditions and values that are unique to Abruzzo and Molise, especially with the young generation whose knowledge of the two regions may be limited.

Since its founding the Society has been actively engaged through a varied program of activities, as documented below, to pursue its objectives and purpose. - Lucio D'Andrea, President Emeritus



Meet Our Scholarship Contributors

A Summary of Initiatives of the Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society:

• Established interest groups in Genealogy, Travel, Gastronomy of the regions, and conversational Italian;
  
  
• Established a linkage with appropriate authorities in the regions of Abruzzo and Molise to promote mutual cooperation and support;
  
  
• Launched the publication of the AMS Notiziario, the Society's newsletter, which reports on activities of the Society and its members, as well as relevant news about the two regions and Italy in general;
  
  
• Contributed financially to the Italian Language Program of the Italian Cultural Society of the Washington, DC area, to promote the Italian language;
  
  
• To combat the stereotyping of Italian Americans, the Society adopted a resolution condemning the TV program "The Sopranos" and any other form of communication which degrades our culture;
  
  
• Established the AMHS Scholarship Fund for meritorious students. Contact Lucio D'Andrea, Scholarship Committee Chairman, at (703) 978-7896 for additional information and for details on how to apply;
  
  
• Established a Molise Earthquake Relief Fund for the benefit of the towns of Molise that were damaged by the October 2002 earthquake. The generous contributions from our membership will be used mainly in favor of the victims of the Elementary school destroyed by the earthquake;
  

Programs and Activities for the 2001-2005 Period

PROGRAMS FOR 2005

January, Sunday 30 at 12:30 P.M.- Society meeting/Put-luck/Inauguration of Officers/ Movie Pane e Tulipani, at Casa Italiana

April, Sunday 3 at 1:00 P.M - Society meeting/Lunch at the Alpine restaurant/Presentation by Omero Sabatini on the Artigianato abruzzese/molisano (ferro e rame battuto).

April, Sunday 24 - Bus Trip to Philadelphia, PA.

May, Sunday 22 at 12:30 P.M.- Society’s meeting/Put-luck/ Presentation by Fiorino D’Onofrio on the “ddu” or “organetto followed by a musical performance, at Casa Italiana.

June, Saturday 11- Festa della Republica, Dinner Dance at Casa Italiana

July, Sunday 31 at 12:30 P.M.- Society’s meeting/Lunch/Presentation on the struggle of Italians as they integrate into the American society and the difficult experience of the Italians in the US during World War II. At Casa Italiana.

August, Sunday 14- Ferragosto picnic at Villa Rosa.

September, Sunday 25 at12:30 P.M.- Society’s meeting/Lunch/Presentation on Ceramica abruzzese del Castelli at a Restaurant

November, Sunday 20 at 12:30 P.M.- Society meeting/Brunch/Election of officers/Wine testing event, at Casa Italiana

December, Sunday 4, at 6:30 P.M.- Christmas Gala/Festa di Natale, Dinner-Dance at Martin’s Crosswinds, Greenbelt MD. Scholarship Awards.

PROGRAMS FOR 2004

January 25 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and pot-luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: Installation of Officers, Society business, and presentation by Lucio D’Andrea, AMHS member, on his recent trip to Molise.

March 21 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and lunch at Pasta Plus Restaurant. Program: picture sharing (of members Abruzzese/Molisani ancestors, villages, etc).

April 25 (Sunday)- One-day bus trip to visit Barboursville Vineyards in Barboursville, VA.

May 23 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and pot-luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation on Celestino V and la Perdonanza.

June 26 (Saturday)- Festa della Repubblica Dinner Dance at Casa Italiana.

July 25 (Sunday)- General meeting, brunch at Casa Italian, Celebration of 199 Birday of Constantino Brumidi, the artist of the U.S. Capitol.

August 15 (Sunday) Ferragosto Picnic at Villa Rosa.

September 26 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and lunch at Marco Polo Restaurant. Program: presentation by Mike Edwards of National Geographic magazine on the voyages and discoveries of Marco Polo.

October 23 (Saturday)- Night of regional folklore with coro, dancers and regional food at Casa Italiana.

November 21 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and brunch at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Election of officers. Program: Wine Testing Event/

December 5 (Sunday)- Fifth Annual Christmas Gala/Festa di Natale at Martin’s Crosswinds, Greenbelt MD. Award three scholarship. Guest of honor Hon. Antonin Scalia, Associete Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

PROGRAMS FOR 2003

January 26 (Sunday) - General Society meeting and pot luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation by Dr. Graziani Marino, Director, Office of Education, Embassy of Italy, on initiatives being pursued by the Embassy to promote Italian language in the United States.

March (Sunday) - General Society meeting and pot luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana.

May 18 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and pot luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation by Russell MacBeth, on “An American Fascination with Italy”.

July 13 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and pot luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: an opportunity for members to come together and socialize, play Italian games (tombola, briscola, etc).

August 17 (Sunday)- Ferragosto Picnic at Villa Rosa.

October 5 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and brunch at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: Bill Gallerizzo, AMHS member, played traditional Italian songs on the mandolin, and gave a history of the mandolin.

November 23 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and pot luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: installation of new Officers. Video presentation on the earthquake in San Giuliano di Puglie.

December 7 (Sunday)- Fourth Annual Christmas Gala/Festa di Natale at the Radison Hotel. Presentation of the first two $1,000 AMHS Scholarships.

PROGRAMS FOR 2002

January 27 (Sunday) General Society meeting and pot-luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation by AMHS Member Dr. Lynn Sorbara, National Institutes of Health researcher, on “Finding and Fighting Disease in the New World of BioTerrorism”.

March 24 (Sunday) - General Society and pot-luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation by James Palumbo, AMHS member, on researching your family tree and explaining the process of gaining Italian citizenship.

May 19 (Sunday) General Society meeting and luncheon at the Alpine Restaurant. Program: presentation by Dr. Michael Corrado, AMHS member, on the characteristics of Molisani immigrants in his parents’ generation and the positive impact that their values and culture had on their children.

July 28 (Sunday) General Society meeting and brunch at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation by Omero Sabatini, AMHS member, on his recently completed translation and adaptation of Alessandro Manzoni’s :I Promessi Sposi”, published under the title “Promise of Fidelity”.

August 12 (Sunday)- Ferragosto Annual Picnic at Villa Rosa.

September 29 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and brunch at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation by Fr. Charles Zanoni, C.S., Pastor of Holy Rosary Church, on the Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Charles/Scalabrini.

November 24 (Sunday)- General Society meeting and pot luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation by Connie DeVito, AMHS member, on the Etruscan influence in Italian art.

December 15 (Sunday)- Second Annual Christmas Gala/Festa di Natale, at Martin’s Crosswinds. Special guest: Dr. Giampaolo Cantini, First Conselor of the Italian Embassy.

PROGRAMS FOR 2001

January 28 (Sunday) - General Society meeting at the National Italian American Foundation. Program: presentations by AMHS members on “La Nostra Storia”, their feelings and reactions on leaving their villages and towns for the United States and their initial experiences and impressions upon arriving in the United States.

March 25 (Sunday) - General Society meeting and pot-luck dinner at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: presentation by Hilary Keever, AMHS member, on her experiences working on an organic farm in Ofena, Abruzzo.

April 22 (Sunday) - General Society meeting and brunch at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: lecture by Dr. Ronald Parise, AMHS member and former NASA astronaut, on his experiences on two NASA space missions.

May - Visit to the new Italian Embassy in Washington, DC with Dr. Giampaolo Cantini, First Counselor of the Embassy and Honorary AMHS member, serving as host.

May 27 (Sunday) - General Society meeting and reception at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana. Program: lecture by Dr. Maureen Miller, Assistant Professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA on “New Light on Medieval Monasticism in Abruzzo and Molise”.

July 1 - Trip to New York City to visit Ellis Island and Little Italy. Arranged by the AMHS Travel Committee.

August (Sunday) - Ferragosto Picnic at Villa Rosa.

September 30 (Sunday) - General Society meeting and light refreshments at the Vienna Community Center. Program: presentation by Omero Sabatini, AMHS member, on the four provinces of Abruzzo.

October - Musical show/Reception

November 25 (Sunday) Meeting/Speaker-Chieti/Reception.

December 1 or 8 (Saturday) First Annual Christmas Gala/Festa di Natale.