ITALIAN COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF FESTA DELLA REPUBBLICA JUNE 9, 2018
By Maria D’Andrea-Yothers, Immediate Past President
The Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society, in association with the Italian Heritage & Cultural Society, Church of the Nativity; the Italian Heritage Society, St. Mary of Sorrows; the National Italian American Foundation; and the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America: GW Lodge and Italian Heritage Lodge of Farifax, are sponsoring Festa della Repubblica celebration on Saturday, June 9, 2018, from 6:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m. at the Church of the Nativity, 6398 Nativity Lane, Burke, VA. These organizations are motivated by a desire to establish an event that reflects a sense of solidarity of the Italian American community in the area.
It promises to be a fun event, with several distinguished guests. AMHS scholarship winner Gianluca Nigro will be the evening’s “MC”. An italian meal, with wine, will be catered by Piero’s Corner Ristorante Italiano. The cost: $25 for adults; and $12 for high school students. Reservation and payment deadline is June 1, 2018. Final details regarding where to RSVP and how to make payment are still being worked out. Once such details are finalized, we will promote this event via our website and by email. In the interim, if you have any questions, please contact Maria D’Andrea-Yothers at uva051985@comcast.net. We hope you will consider joining us for this festive celebration.
Background The Festa della Repubblica is the Italian national holiday celebrated on the second day of June. It commemorates the institutional referendum of 1946 when (by universal suffrage) the Italian population was called to decide what form of government (monarchy or republic) the country would have following World War II and the fall of Fascism. After 85 years of monarchy, with 12,717,923 votes for and 10,719,284 votes against, Italy became a Republic, and the monarchs of the House of Savoy were deposed and exiled. This is one of the most important Italian national holidays which, like July 4 in the United States and July 14 in France, celebrates the birth of the nation.