NEXT SOCIETY EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
NOVEMBER 23 MEETING: ANNUAL WINE-TASTING AND PORCHETTA LUNCH
We are pleased to once again present the annual porchetta lunch and wine-tasting. You should definitely not miss out on our most popular event of the year, coming on Sunday, November 23. Our wine-making members and friends will bring samples of their production to share with attending members, friends and guests.
The porchetta will be provided, once again, by Joe Novello, with a recipe he developed himself and has been using for about 5 years to make this delicious dish for family and friends. The wine-tasting is being organized by Romeo Sabatini, who in the past has done an outstanding job in coordinating this event. Based on past years, there is sure to be a variety of wonderful wines to be tasted, possibly even some grappa and limoncello. The program will begin with a brief AMHS general meeting to elect three new members to the Board of Directors to replace Bruno Fusco, John and Eileen Verna who are completing their terms on the board.
We would like to thank Bruno, John and Eileen for their many contributions to the Society. Before the wine-tasting begins, Raffaele De Gregorio will give a short presentation on wine culture and how wine has been part of the Italian lifestyle. (You may recall that Raffaele was one of the artists who participated in our July 27 program.) A raffle will be conducted as well, with the proceeds going the AMHS Annual Scholarship Fund. Please make your reservations early to make sure you don’t miss out on this wonderful and fun event!!
AUTHOR PAUL PAOLICELLI TALKS ABOUT SOUTHERN ITALIAN HERITAGE
“A rewarding experience with a gifted and informed speaker” is how one attendee described the September 28, 2014 AMHS program. The speaker, Paul Paolicelli, is the author of two books, Dances with Luigi and Under the Southern Sun: Stories of the Real Italy and the Americans It Created. He was introduced by AMHS member Dave Ciummo, who noted that he first met Paolicelli 14 years ago and that is how long he had been hoping to have him come and speak to us. Given the favorable comments afterwards, it was well worth the wait!!
Paolicelli told us how he grew up in the Pittsburgh area vaguely aware of his Italian heritage. For years, he was busy achieving success in the television news business (including a stint as news director at NBC-TV in Washington, D.C.). But at some point, he realized that there was this nagging desire to find out more about his heritage, but by this time, many of the family members here who could have told him their stories, had all passed away. 3 That’s when he packed up and moved to Rome for a few years, learned Italian (and played in a jazz band) and spent considerable time in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily and elsewhere. He wrote about this journey in Dances with Luigi. Encouraged by the book’s success, Paolicelli decided to write a second book because he wanted to try to find out why so many of the Southern Italians who emigrated to the U.S.
became successful in just one generation—bankers, film directors, politicians, scientists, businessmen, artists, musicians, athletes. He noted that over 80% of Italian Americans can trace their origins back to Southern Italy, and he said these immigrants “brought values, not valuables.” He said because of the economic disparity between North and South, the South was “hemorrhaging” their best and brightest, most ambitious people who came and made the most of the opportunities here. And he said they brought with them their strong work ethic, their love of family, and their faith. In his book, Paolicelli recounts how the dying words of his grandfather, who was fatally injured in a steel mill accident, were not about himself. No, his dying words were “i miei poveri figli” (my poor children). Paolicelli said he gives talks all over the country, sometimes to standing room only audiences, in places like Salt Lake City, and he says he sees a “hunger” for people to understand where they come from. In sum, Paolicelli told us that his life-changing experiences in Southern Italy deepened the admiration and affection he feels for this part of Italy. His passionate and informed talk was a real treat!!
Afterwards, Paolicelli answered some interesting questions from the audience and signed copies of his first book. (His second book, in the acknowledgements at the end, mentions Joseph D’Andrea, who is Lucio’s brother and Maria’s uncle and godfather). In addition to Paolicelli’s presentation, accordionist Joan Tacchetti Grauman (whose own roots are in Abruzzo) was back by popular demand, and she played the songs remembered and loved by many. At the end of the program, a raffle was held and $127 was collected for the AMHS Scholarship Fund. Many thanks to the donors for the raffle items.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2014 PROGRAM AT CASA ITALIANA: THE INFLUENCE OF ITALIANS ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH OF THE U.S. MARINE BAND
On Sunday, September 21, 2014, approximately 70 people experienced a wonderful program at Holy Rosary Church/Casa Italiana, titled “The Italian Legacy in the Development and Growth of the United States Marine Band”. Gunnery Sergeant Kira Wharton gave the presentation, which was enhanced by 5 musical pieces performed by the Marine String Quartet. The presentation focused on the history of the Marine Band and the important role of Italian immigrants in its earliest years. Francis Maria Scala, born in Naples around 1819, was the first Marine Band musician to receive the title “Leader of the Band” in 1861, a position he maintained through 1871. Subsequently, Francesco Fanciulli, born in Porto San Stefano in 1853, was Director of the Marine Band from 1892-1897.
Both artists had a profound impact on the shape of the Band and were highly respected by the White House and Washington society during their time. Both men were also prolific composers and arrangers. The presentation was complemented by 5 musical pieces performed by the Marine String Quartet - Staff Sergeants Christopher Franke, violin; Sarah Hart, viola; Charlaine Prescott, cello; and Sheng-Tsung Wang, violin. The Quartet performed works by Carlo Antonio Campioni, Giuseppe Verdi, Antonín Dvorak, Sammy Nestico (member, U.S. Marine Band), and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The most touching tribute came at the end of the program, when the Quartet performed the “Armed Forces Medley” and asked that those in the audience who serve, have served, or have a family member who served in the Armed Forces, to stand when their respective medley was performed.
At least ½ of the audience stood! We were so very fortunate to have two people in the audience who have their own personal history with the Band. Mr. Nick Capanelli, whose grandfather, Joseph, played trumpet and violin, and Pasquale (Pat) Pulverenti, who played clarinet and violin with the Band for 30 years! Joseph was a member of Holy Rosary Church and Pat was baptized in the Church. Pat’s parents and his wife Stella’s parents were also married in the Church - such a small world! The Marine Band could not accept payment for this event. In order to do something of value as thanks for their presentation, those in attendance were asked to consider making a donation to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, which has as its mission to “preserve and promulgate the history, traditions and culture of the Marine Corps and educate all Americans in its virtues”.
AMHS collected all the donations - $207.00 – and made a formal presentation of the donation on behalf of the supporting entities. We are grateful to Father Ezio Marchetto for his enthusiastic support of this event, and to my father, Lucio D’Andrea, who brought the idea for the Church to host this program after a similar one was presented at St. Mary of Sorrows Church in Fairfax, VA in January. AMHS also extends its thanks to The Lido Civic Club and the Lucchesi nel Mondo-Tuscany Club for their co-sponsorship. A great time was had by all.
Background on the United States Marine Band
The United States Marine Band is the premier band of the United States Marine Corps. Established by an act of Congress on July 11, 1798, it is the oldest of the United States military bands and the oldest professional musical organization in the United States. The Marine Band is uniquely known as “The President's Own” because of its historic connection to the President of the United States. The relationship between the Marine Band and the White 4 House began on New Year’s Day 1801, when President John Adams invited the band to perform at the Executive Mansion. Later that year, Thomas Jefferson initiated the tradition of Marine Band performances by requesting that it perform at his inauguration.
The Marine Band has played at every United States presidential inauguration since. Today, the Marine Band performs in approximately 500 events every year including state funerals, state arrival ceremonies, state dinners, parades, concerts, and other social events. The Marine Band also travels across the country each October and November during its fall concert tour, a tradition that began in 1891 under its most famous director, composer John Philip Sousa. The Marine Band recruits experienced musicians; members are selected through a rigorous audition procedure and must satisfy additional security and physical requirements to be eligible. Selected band members serve under a four-year contract as active duty enlisted Marines and are subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice and physical standards. They are the only members of the United States Armed Forces not required to undergo recruit training and do not perform combat missions. Also, they are not assigned to any unit other than the Marine Band.
REPORT OF THE AMHS NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The following members of the Society’s Board of Directors will have their 3-year terms of office end on December 31 of this year: John Verna, Eileen Verna and Bruno Fusco. We owe these fine people our gratitude for their service to the Society. The Nominating Committee, whose role it is to nominate members to stand for election to fill these vacancies, is extremely pleased to have found three very well qualified members who are willing to serve. We are happy to announce the following slate of nominees:
• Ennio DiTullio
• Ray LaVerghetta
• Rosina Brienza Shacknies
The election will be held at the general Society meeting on Sunday, November 23, 2014. Respectfully submitted by the Nominating Committee: Nancy DeSanti, Dick DiBuono and Lucio D’Andrea, Chairman
Following are the candidates’ submitted autobiographies
Ennio Di Tullio Ennio was born in Rosello, province of Chieti in Abruzzo, and came to Washington, DC in 1963 with a Diplomatic Visa and worked in the Embassies of Peru, Brazil and Venezuela. In 1967 Ennio began work with the World Bank, embarking on a career in the computer field, first in the operation of large computer mainframes as Assistant Manager of the Joint Computer Center of the Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and later as an Information Officer, administering the Local Area Network of the Computing Department. Ennio retired from the World Bank after 31 years of service, and dedicates his time to his many hobbies and enjoys taking trips to Italy, especially to his beloved Rosello. Ennio is one of the founding members of the Society and has served as the first Vice President for Programs, Vice President for Membership, Chairman of the Gala Committee, Editor of the AMHS Notiziario and was the second President of the Society serving over 2 terms. Ennio is devoted to the Society, particularly proud for helping putting the Society on the path that it is today, formalizing the Society’s relations with the Abruzzo and Molise regions and for establishing the Scholarship program. Ennio is married to Emma, a native of Vasto (Chieti), Abruzzo. They have a son, Roberto, a daughter, Daniela and 2 grandchildren, Sebastian and Sofia.
Ray La Verghetta Ray LaVerghetta is a second-generation Italian-American born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. His paternal grandparents were born and grew up in Vasto, in the province of Chieti, in Abruzzo. His maternal grandfather was also born and raised in Vasto, Abruzzo, while his maternal grandmother called home Pizzone, a small mountain town originally part of Abruzzo but incorporated into Molise, province of Isernia, in 1861. Ray went to grade school at St. Charles Borromeo parochial school in Baltimore, attended Mt. St. Joseph High School in Catonsville, and then Loyola University in Maryland. He earned a Ph.D. in Linguistics at Georgetown University, and then began a career divided between academia and government (DoD). He has taught at Georgetown University, Loyola University, the U.S. Naval Academy, the National Cryptologic School, the Community Colleges of Baltimore County, and Howard Community College. He retired in 2013 and is now working part-time at both DoD and Howard Community College. In his spare time, he is engaged in a language documentation project, working on the language/dialect that was spoken in Vasto (and still is by the oldest residents) prior to the dominance of Italian.
Rosina Brienza Schacknies Rosina Brienza Schacknies is a native of Fossalto, a province of Campobasso, in the region of Molise. She immigrated to the U.S. with her family after completing middle school. She grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her father relocated to join his brother and sister. She holds a BA in Sociology and Latin from Xavier University and an MA in Liberal Arts from Johns Hopkins University. Rosina is retired from the US Department of State after over twenty years in the foreign service. She has worked at a number of overseas posts in the Middle East, Italy, and Central America. She lived in Rome from 1995 to 1999 and traveled extensively throughout the country to reacquaint herself with the regional customs, art forms, cuisine, and language. Rosina has been a member of the AMHS since 2013. She has three children and six grandchildren - a perfect platform for practicing the Italian lifestyle and celebrating the Italian spirit.