I would like
to share with you something very inspiring to me, something that makes me
personally proud of my heritage and grateful for this great country we call
America or the United States. It could probably have been written by: an
Irishman or German or Chinese, Pole or Russian, or any nationality that would
fill in the blanks. I find it beautiful and found it on a Facebook page.
Dante |
"I am an Italian American. My roots are deep in an ancient
soil drenched by the Mediterranean sun, and watered by pure streams from snow-capped
mountains.
I am enriched by thousands of years of culture. My hands are those
of the mason, the artist, the man of the soil. My thoughts have been recorded
in the annals of Rome, the poetry of Virgil, the creations of Dante, and the
philosophy of Benedetto Croce.
I am an Italian American and from my ancient world, I first
spanned the seas to the new world. I am Cristoforo Colombo.
I am Giovanni Caboto known in American history as John Cabot,
discoverer of the mainland of North America.
I am Amerigo Vespucci, who gave my name to the new world, America.
First to sail on the Great Lakes in 1679, founder of the territory
that became the State of Illinois, colonizer of Louisiana and Arkansas, I am
Enrico Tonti.
I am Filippo Mazzei, friend of Thomas Jefferson and my thesis on
the equality of man was written into the Bill of Rights.
I am William Paca, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
I am an Italian American, I financed the Northwest Expedition of
George Rogers Clark and accompanied him through the lands that would become
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. I am Colonel Francesco Vigo.
I mapped the Pacific from Mexico to Alaska and to the Philippines.
I am Alessandro Malaspina.
I am Giacomo Beltrami, discoverer of the source of the Mississippi
River in 1823.
I created the Dome of the United States Capitol. They called me
the Michelangelo of America. I am Constantino Brumidi.
A. P. Giannini |
In 1904, I founded in San Francisco, the Bank of Italy now know as
the Bank of America, the largest financial institution in the world. I am A.P.
Giannini.
I am Enrico Fermi, father of nuclear science in America. liasion
First enlisted man to win the medal of Honor in World War II, I am
John Basilone of New Jersey.
I am an Italian American. I am the million strong who served in
America's armies and the tens of thousands whose names are enshrined in
military cemeteries from Guadalcanal to the Rhine.
I am the steel maker in Pittsburgh, the grower in the Imperial
Valley of California, the textile designer in Manhattan, the movie maker in
Hollywood, the home maker and the breadwinner in 10,000 communities.
I am an American without stint or reservation, loving this land as
only one who understands history, its agonies and its triumphs can love it and
serve it.
I will not be told that my contribution is any less nor my role
not as worthy as that of any other American.
I will stand in support of this nation's freedom and promise
against all foes.
My heritage has dedicated me to this nation. I am proud of my full
heritage, and I shall remain worthy of it.
I Am An Italian American.”
Address: 1231 Taft Hwy, Signal
Mountain, TN 37377
Phone:(423) 886-6943
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