Res. No. 1248

Resolution commemorating the 70^th anniversary of the Italian Republic.

By Council Members Vallone, Palma, Gentile, Vacca and Koslowitz

                     Whereas, Italy celebrated its 70^th Republic Day on June 2, 2016; on this date, in 1946, Italians voted to abolish the monarchy and the Republic of Italy was born; and

Whereas, Although geographic Italy has been recognized for over two millennia, it was first unified as a nation-state under Victor Emmanuel II in 1861; and

Whereas, From its origins in Ancient Rome, beginning in the eighth century B.C.E., the Roman Republic, founded in 509 B.C.E., and the Roman Empire, established 27 B.C.E.; including the foundation of the Roman Catholic Church during the first century; the Italian Renaissance of 1200-1600 C.E the Italian Enlightenment of 1685-1789 C.E.; the Risorgimento, or Italian unification, in 1861; both World Wars; and European integration, Italy’s long and rich history has had a significant impact on Western civilization and the world; and

Whereas, Italy is recognized for its cultural heritage, which includes the fine arts of the Renaissance, the artistic and scientific genius of Leonardo Da Vinci, the literary works of Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch, the operas of Giuseppe Verdi and Giacomo Puccini, the fashion designs of Gianni Versace and Miuccia Prada and many other contributions that have greatly influenced today’s world; and

Whereas, William Paca, an Italian-American, was a politician, a delegate to the Continental Congress and one of the original signatories to the United States (U.S.) Declaration of Independence; and

Whereas, Fiorello La Guardia, an Italian-American, served New York City’s 14^th and 20^th Congressional districts before becoming New York City’s 99^th Mayor for three terms from 1934 to 1945, and for which the City’s LaGuardia Airport, LaGuardia Community College and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts are named; and

Whereas, During World War II, many Italian-American women took war jobs, including Rose Bonavita-Hickey, who was recognized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt with a personal letter commending her for her performance as an aircraft riveter and, together with two other women workers, came to symbolize all American women workers in the war industries as “Rosie the Riveter”; and

Whereas, Joe DiMaggio, an Italian-American, was a Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees and a three-time MVP winner, perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak in 1941, a record that still stands; and

                     Whereas, In 1984, Geraldine A. Ferraro, an Italian-American, was the first woman selected by a major political party as its candidate for Vice President of the U.S. after serving NYC’s Ninth Congressional District for three terms; and

                     Whereas, Italian-Americans have made major contributions in the fields of engineering, medicine and science, including Federico Faggin, who designed the first microchip and microprocessor; Enrico Fermi, who created the first nuclear reactor; Robert Gallo, who co-discovered human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as the infectious agent responsible for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS); and Riccardo Giacconi, who developed the X-ray telescope; and

Whereas, Italian-Americans have served with distinction in all of the U.S. involved wars, more than forty of whom have received the Congressional Medal of Honor since its establishment during the Civil War as the military’s highest award for combat valor; and

                     Whereas, Italy and the U.S. first established diplomatic ties in 1861 and then, after World War II, re-established relations in 1944; today, the Italy-U.S. partnership is as strong as ever; and

                     Whereas, According to the U.S. Census, New York City is home to the largest Italian population in the United States; and

Whereas, Italy and the U.S. share important values, including the promotion of human rights, democracy, freedom, peace and global security, all of which have helped forge a solid alliance, built around the United Nations, NATO and Euro-Atlanticism; now, therefore, be it

                     Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York commemorates the 70th anniversary of the Italian Republic.

CGR

LS #8918

9/26/2016