Berlusconi's Courage Honored
President Bush and Prime Minister Berlusconi Salute Sons Of Italy
By Vincent P. Cuccia

On May 19th, at Washington D.C.’s Grand Hyatt Hotel, the Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) held its 16th annual National Education & Leadership Awards (NELA) Gala. 900 guests bought tickets to support SIF’s efforts, which raised nearly one million dollars for scholarships, medical research, disaster relief, and cultural programs. Since 1959, the SIF has given more than $87 million to these causes.
The highlight of the evening’s success was the attendance of both United States President George W. Bush and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. This evening marked the first time a sitting U.S. president and a prime minister of Italy attended a major non-profit event in America together. They praised Italian Americans, the Sons of Italy, and the strong alliance between Italy and the United States in the war against terrorism.
President Bush spoke first. He addressed the audience on the military efforts of Italy and the U.S. in Iraq. "At this crucial moment in history, said President Bush, America and Italy are standing together as proud friends and strong allies in the cause of freedom."
President Bush went on to insist, "We will not be intimated by thugs and assassins. We will win this essential victory in the war on terror."
Then the President concluded with the contributions of Mother Frances Cabrini, Marine Sgt. John Basilone, and former New York mayor Fiorello La Guardia, among others. They and millions of Italian Americans like them "brought to our country strength of character, a deep faith in God, love of family and an appreciation of freedom. Without question, America is a better place for the influence of the sons and daughters of Italy." The President received three long, standing ovations during his speech.
In another historic first that evening, Prime Minister Berlusconi received the first Sons of Italy International Man of Courage award for his support of the U.S. in its war against terrorism. SIF President Paul Polo and the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) National President Joseph Sciame presented it.
P.M. Berlusconi spoke in Italian. The translation of his speech was heard over headsets for those who did not understand Italian. He began by expressing gratitude to the United States for the sacrifice of young Americans in World War II "who saved the world from totalitarianism." He said that thanks to the post-war U.S. Marshall Plan, Italy was able to rebuild itself, becoming the sixth most important economic leader in the world today.
The presence of 3,000 Italian troops in Iraq makes Italy the third nation after the United States and Great Britain to have the most troops in that war-torn country. "We have the duty to assume our share of responsibility to help the weaker people in the world," P.M. Berlusconi said.
The Prime Minister praised the Sons of Italy for its efforts to promote the study of Italian in American schools and thanked its members "for what you are doing in America." He said that normally he does not accept awards, but has made two recent exceptions to his rule. One was the Distinguished Statesman Award, which he received last year from the Jewish Anti-Defamation League. The other was this evening's SIF award, which he dedicated "to all the Italian soldiers who are fighting in Iraq."
The highlight of the evening was the attendance of President Bush and Prime Minister Berlusconi; however, this year’s honorees were luminaries in their right. For example, there was Honoree Joseph A. Grano, chairman of UBS Financial Services and the principal individual sponsor of the exhibit The Italians of New York: Five Centuries of Struggle and Achievements held at the New York Historical Society from October 1999 to February 2000. This exhibit led to the establishment of the Italian American Museum in 2001. Mr. Grano has pledged his support for the Museum and is actively seeking a home (building) in New York City. Mr. Grano along with the Dinner Chairman, Ambassador Charles A. Gargano have asked the Sons of Italy Foundation to donate a portion of the funds raised at this year’s gala to support the Italian American Museum in New York City.
Other honorees were Frances M. Visco, Esq., president of the National Breast Cancer Coalition and John J. DeGioia, Ph.D., president of Georgetown University.
Ambassador Charles A. Gargano, who heads the New York State’s Empire State Development Corporation and Robert F. Corrao, Chairman and CEO of Sports Impact, Inc were co-chairs of the evening’s gala. The evening's hosts were Paul S. Polo and Joseph Sciame, respectively the president and chairman of the Sons of Italy Foundation.
United States Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), the House Minority Leader was a guest speaker. She noted that her parents used to take her to their Sons of Italy lodge meetings when she was a child. "As Italian Americans, we were raised to be patriotic and proud of our heritage," she said.
Other guests included the United States ambassador to Italy Mel Sembler; Italy's ambassador to the United States. Sergio Vento; AIDS researcher and former NELA honoree, Anthony Fauci, M.D.; labor leaders Martin Maddaloni and John Sweeney; Terry McAuliffe, chair of the Democratic National Committee; Undersecretary of State Pat de Stacy Harrison; Lee Jones of the College Board; James Zogby of the Arab American Institute; and Gordon Mansfield, deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
From the Congress, guests included United States Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT); Nick Lampson (D-TX); John Larson (D-CT); and United States Senators Joseph Lieberman (D-CT); Rick Santorum (R-PA); and Patrick Tiberi (R-OH), as well as leaders from business and the arts.
Among the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) supporters were members and officers from the Grand Lodges of California, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York and Ohio; members of several filial lodges including the George Washington Lodge #2038 and the Italia Mia Lodge #2796 both of Virginia; as well as members of the OSIA national executive board.
Master of Ceremonies was Chuck Conconi, Editor-at-Large at Washingtonian magazine. Tenor Michael Amante and the troupe "100 Years of Broadway" performed and the Rev. David M. O'Connell, president of the Catholic University of America, gave the benediction.
The SIF is the philanthropic arm of OSIA, the largest and oldest national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States. Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro established OSIA in 1905 on Grand Street. On June 19, 2004, the Sons of Italy in America will kick off a yearlong centennial celebration.