[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12590]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE ORDER SONS OF ITALY IN AMERICA ON THE 100TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 13, 2005

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to acknowledge the achievements of 
the Order Sons of Italy in America, OSIA, as they celebrate their 100th 
Anniversary. As the oldest and largest organization for Americans of 
Italian descent, OSIA has a rich history of making outstanding 
contributions to the community. The organization now has 700 local 
chapters across the Nation.
  Since June 22, 1905 when an Italian immigrant, Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro 
and his five compatriots established OSIA, the organization has worked 
to preserve and disseminate the rich Italian heritage of 23 million 
Americans of Italiandescent. Men and women share equal status within 
OSIA. The Grand Lodge of New York founded in 1911, was OSIA's first 
Grand Lodge. There are now 20 Grand Lodges. Today there are 96 local 
chapters in New York State, with 50,000 family memberships. OSIA has 
also been dedicated to helping immigrants acclimate to their new 
country. In its early years, OSIA established free schools to teach 
immigrants English.
  Imbued with a strong sense of patriotism, during WorId War I and 
WorId War II, OSIA members competed against one another to buy the 
greatest amount of war bonds and war stamps to raise money for the 
American Red Cross. To date, OSIA members have given more than $83 
million to educational programs, disaster advancement and medical 
research. Additionally, the organization has created The Sons of Italy 
Foundation, which has given over $38 million for scholarships, medical 
research, cultural preservation and disaster relief. Today, OSIA 
researches Italian-American culture and history, promotes the study of 
Italian in the United States, provides scholarships to Italian 
Americans and organizes grassroots campaigns in support of legislation, 
as well.
  Not only have the members of the OSIA dedicated themselves to 
charitable funding, but they have also actively promoted social justice 
through their anti-defamation arm, the Commission for Social Justice. 
The Commission has actively fought for equal treatment of people 
regardless of their race, religion or culture.
  Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro gave an inaugural address the day the OSIA was 
founded. He stated, ``Today I have a dream and a hope that some day 
even if it takes 100 years before we are ever fully accepted, our 
children, even if they carry a single drop of Italian blood, will be 
able and proud to carry on our traditions, our culture and our 
language. It is up to us, and what we do today.'' Vincenzo Sellaro 
would be proud to see what the Order Sons of Italy in America has 
accomplished for Americans of Italian descent over the past 100 years.
  Mr. Speaker, the Order Sons of Italy in America has been an asset to 
the New York City community and our Nation as a whole for a hundred 
years. It has been my pleasure to work with this outstanding 
organization for many years, and I wish them another century of 
success. Mr. Speaker, I request that my colleagues join me in honoring 
the Order Sons of Italy in America on their 100th anniversary.

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