[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17316]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE VIRGILIO LODGE NO. 1586 AND THE BEATRICE PORTINARI LODGE 
    NO. 1626 OF THE ORDER OF SONS OF ITALY ON THEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY

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                           HON. GEORGE MILLER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2006

  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to invite 
my colleagues to join me in congratulating the Virgilio Lodge No. 1586 
and the Beatrice Portinari Lodge No. 1626 as they celebrate their 
Golden Jubilee Gala on September 9, 2006.
  The Order of the Sons of Italy in America was established in Vallejo, 
California, in January of 1931 when one-fourth of the community was 
composed of Italian Americans. The Sons of Italy is a National 
Fraternal Order that has lodges throughout the United States and Canada 
and took out its Charter in 1905 in New York City. They believe in 
liberty, equality and fraternity.
  The lodges have been very active in Vallejo and Solano County 
including awarding 15 annual scholarships; raising in excess of $80,000 
for the Alzheimer's Research Center at the University of California at 
Davis Medical Center; donating $5500 to the helipad at Sutter Solano 
Hospital in Vallejo; donating to numerous charities in the area; and in 
1976 sponsoring the Landing of Columbus at the Vallejo Waterfront as a 
Bicentennial Tribute to the City of Vallejo.
  Through the years the Virgilio Lodge and the Beatrice Portinari Lodge 
have jointly participated in activities from civic to social functions 
in Vallejo. Among their shared highlights during their 75-year history 
are sponsoring the annual Columbus Day Banquet and initiating the 
renaming of Miller Road to Columbus Parkway. In 1974 they dedicated 
their own Lodge building in the former Lincoln School annex, which 
represents a second family home to the entire membership. Three Lodge 
members have served as Mayors of Vallejo: Terry Cutrola, Jr., Anthony 
J. Intintoli, Jr., and Gloria Exline. Many other members have served as 
elected or appointed officials in the City of Vallejo and are very 
active in the community.
  I commend the Virgilio Lodge No. 1586 and the Beatrice Portinari 
Lodge No. 1626 for their many contributions to the City of Vallejo and 
wish them many more years of service to the community.

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