AMBASSADOR
SALLEO JOINS EVENTS
 The
Honorable Ferdinando Salleo, Italian
Ambassador to the United States
of America, will partecipate in both Chicago and St. Louis festivities.
The Italian American communities of both cities are thrilled about the
Ambassador's endorsement and presence in the anniversary celebration of
this heroic Italian aviator.
H.E. Ferdinando Salleo, one
of the five longest serving Italian diplomats, was appointed Ambassador
of Italy to the United States on November 9, 1995.
He was born in Messina (Sicily)
in 1936, and entered the Italian Foreign Service in 1960, soon after getting
his Laurea (M.A. degree) from the Law School of the University of Rome.
He first served in Paris, then in New York as Consul, then in Prague. In
1972 he came back to the States as counselor at the Embassy in Washington
D.C. He later served in the Political Department of his Ministry, from
where he moved to Bonn as Minister Counselor. In 1979 he was first appointed
deputy Director General of the Department for Economic Cooperation and
Development Aid of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Rome. In 1985, he
was appointed Director General of the same Department. His experience in
Economic and Financial Affairs brought him to accept the post of Head of
the Italian Permanent Mission to the OECD (the Paris-based Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development) in 1986. He then returned to
Rome at the head of the Economic Affairs Department. From 1989 to 1993
he served as Ambassador of Italy in Moscow, during the Gorbatchev era and
the downfall of the Soviet Union. The top post of Secretary General of
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was his last assignment in Rome, before
being appointed to Washington D.C.
Ambassador Salleo
has been a visiting professor at the University of Florence and a professor
at Rome University. Over the last five years, he has had several opportunities
to meet groups of scholars and students as key-note speakers in different
parts of the Country.
He is the author of
a diplomatic history study on the genesis of the State of Albania (1913),
which was published by Sellerio (Palermo) in the year 2000.
While the Ambassador
and Mrs. Anne Marie Salleo live in Washington, their son Alberto is a researcher
and Ph.D. candidate of Materials Science an Engineering at Livermore (CA).
World leaders have bestowed honors on
Commander DePinedo, including the presentation of the British
Royal Air Force Cross in 1927. An article from the 23 June, 1927
issue of the British Magazine "Flight" in which the following reference
is made:
"Although establishing
no recognized world's records, the flight just completed by the Marquis
of Pinedo is in many ways one of the most remarkable in the history of
aviation. While recently several land aeroplanes have covered great
distances over the sea, Pinedo has covered greater over land in a seaplane...In
every way, the Marquis of Pinedo is to be congratulated on his splendid
achievement, and the honour bestowed upon him by His Majesty King George
by awarding him the Air Force Cross will be heartily welcomed by British
aviation in general, which sees in it a fitting expression of the admiration
and esteem with which the gallant Marquis is held in this country."
|
"FRA NOI" PRESS RELEASE |
CHICAGO COMMEMORATES ITALIAN
AIRMAN'S 1927 FLIGHT TO CITY |
| The life and deeds of Francesco
De Pinedo, a trailblazing Italian aviator and one-time international hero
whose fame was rivaled only by Charles Lindbergh’s, will be the focus of
a day-long commemoration in Chicago on Wednesday, May 15th, 2002. The date,
which has been officially designated "De Pinedo Day" by Mayor Richard M.
Daley, marks the 75th anniversary of the intrepid transatlantic flyer’s
visit to the city, a call he made as part of his sensational aerial tour
of the Western Hemisphere in 1927.
The event has been organized
by Italian Consul General Enrico Granara with the participation and support
of the Istituto Italiano di Cultura, the Italian Trade Commission, the
Italian Government Tourist Board, and numerous local, national, and international
Italian and Italian American organizations, institutes, and private businesses.
Notable guests will include Italian Ambassador Ferdinando Salleo, Mayor
Daley, and Countess Maria Fede Caproni, daughter of Italian aircraft builder
Gianni Caproni and founder of the famous Caproni Aviation Museum in Trento.
"After arriving in Chicago
in 1999", Granara stated, " several of the more historically-minded members
of the Italian American community recalled my attention to De Pinedo and
his role in one of early aviation’s most extraordinary episodes of valor,
courage and initiative. The first European aviator to fly to the United
States, he landed here after having flown across the Atlantic from Africa
to Brazil in a Savoia Marchetti seaplane which had been christened, quite
symbolically, the Santa Maria."
The day’s events will begin
with the opening of an exhibit of Italian aviation memorabilia at the Istituto
Italiano di Cultura, after which Dr. Gregory Alegi, one of the leading
European authorities on early aviation history, will lecture on the details
of De Pinedo’s achievements. Alegi’s presentation will be followed later
that afternoon by the official opening at the Richard J. Daley Center of
an exhibit entitled "Wings of Italy", featuring 44 original, Futurist-style
Italian aviation posters from the years 1910 through 1943. Currently on
display at the Estorick Gallery of London, this rare collection is part
of the Massimo & Sonia Cirulli Archive of New York, and will be available
for viewing by the general public from May 16th to June 15th, 2002 at the
Daley Center.
"The exhibit offers a thematic
overview of three decades of Italian aviation activity that coincided with
three, critical and decisive epochs of Italy’s history, specifically World
War I, the rise of Fascism, and the subsequent events that led to the Second
World War", noted Granara. "The exhibit and the other events of the day
constitute an invitation from the Italian and Italian American communities
to all Chicagoans to call to mind a seldom remembered but glorious page
from the history of this great city, written by a small crew of intrepid,
Italian aviators under the command of Colonel De Pinedo."
The May 15th commemoration
will conclude with an outdoor concert in tribute to De Pinedo featuring
Italian patriotic and thematic music performed by Caliendo’s Banda Napoletana
under the sponsorship of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans.
The 45 minute concert will begin at 6:30 PM at the Daley Plaza and will
be open to attendance by the general public.
Subsequent to the Chicago
celebrations, De Pinedo will again be the focus of commemorative activities
in St. Louis, New Orleans, Milwaukee, and Madison, Wisconsin. The St. Louis
events, sponsored by the "Italy at St. Louis" electronic news magazine
(www.italystl.com) and the Federation of Italian American Organizations,
will include a lecture by Dr. Alegi and an exhibit of fifty-one photographs
from the Italian Air Force Historical Office chronicling De Pinedo’s American
tour. Detailed information on De Pinedo and all of the upcoming commemorative
events can be found at http://www.italystl.com/pride/.
Italic Institute of America
representatives and Fra Noi correspondents Don Fiore and Robert Allegrini,
both long-time admirers of De Pinedo and members of the commemoration’s
planning committee, credited Granara with what they view as the crucial
first steps toward restoring the forgotten aviator’s place in history.
"About 20 years ago, I came across an old recording of a 1927 song entitled
"’l Volo di De Pinedo’ which recounted the exploits of some great Italian
aviator of whom I had previously never heard a word", said Fiore. "I started
to suspect some artistic exaggeration, since there was utterly no mention
of him in any of the English language aviation histories that I subsequently
consulted. But when I checked newspapers from 1927, there he was all over
the front page.
"Like Garibaldi, De Pinedo
can be viewed as an almost ‘perfect hero’ and one who should serve as a
powerful, inspirational icon to all Italian Americans, especially in our
struggle against the ongoing brutalization of the Italian and Italian American
image by the entertainment and pop culture media. The Consul General has
launched the first, visible initiative in over seventy years to return
this hero to the Italian American community. Hopefully, the community will
respond with all due appreciation and support."
END
|
|
|
| CHICAGO |
The Agenda for
May 15, 2002:
12:00 Noon-
Istituto Italiano di Cultura, by invitation.
Lecture
and Exhibition Opening
"Francesco
de Pinedo: an Italian Lindbergh?"
Lecture
by Professor Gregory Alegi
6:30 PM
- Richard J. Daley Civic Center
Official
Presentation
Concert
by the Caliendo Neapolitan Band - Program
Roster of Sponsors:
The Consulate General of
Italy and the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Chicago are grateful to the
Department of Cultural Affairs and the Public Buildings Commission, City
of Chicago as well as to the following organizations, companies and individuals
for their support in making this project possible:
Aerea Spa.
American Airlines
Assolombarda, Milano
BOEING
CNH Global
A.I.D.A.
Bucci Studio International
CIB Bank
Colletti Antique Poster
Gallery
Columbian Club Chicago
Cozzini Inc.
ENIT - Italian Government
Tourist Office
FIERI
Gullo International
Hilton Chicago&Towers
IME ~ Italy Midwest Exchange
Italian American Chamber
of Commerce
Italian American Human Relations
Foundation
Italian American Medical
Association
Italian American Police
Association
Italian American War Veterans
Italic Institute of America
Joint Civic Committee of
Italian Americans
Lord Bissell Brooks, LLP
Arturo Filippo Lorioli
Milan Committee - Chicago
Sister Cities Intl. program
National Italian American
Foundation
Order Sons of Italy - Illinois
Phil Stefani's Riva Restaurant,
Navy Pier
Romano Bros. Beverages
Rose Importing & Distributing
SACA - Sicilian American
Cultural Association
Studio Cirulli, Bologna
Turano Bakeries, Inc.
www.italystl.com
Dr. Michele Carbone M.D.
Dr. Joseph Amato M.D.
Mr. Lucien Battiato
Mr. Dominic DiFrisco
Mr. D*R*M*
Mr. G*V*H
|
| Confirmed
sponsors and events: |
Contessa Maria Fede Caproni
di Taliedo, fondatrice del Museo Aeronautico Caproni a Trento
Dott. Gregory Alegi, Italy's
foremost expert in historical aircrafts will be in Chicago and his conference
will begin at 12:00 noon, May 15 at the IIC (Istituto Italiano di Cultura/Italian
Cultural Institute)
A miniature replica of the dePinedo's
aircraft will be displayed at the IIC
"Wing of Italy" (Curator Massimo
Cirulli) A 36 historical lithographs exhibit will be displayed at the Richard
J. Daley Center (Rose Farina) from May 15 to June 15. An additional
8 lithographs will be exhibited at the IIC
Chicago Historical Society has
given a reproduction of its press clips of the times
Gene Farina (NIAF/Chicago) gave
$1,000 and pledged to pay for the exhibit insurance, printing of invitations
(Buddy Romano) and, through the NIAF member restaurateur Suparossa, the
buffet at the ICC following the conference
OSIA/Illinois gave $1,500
The I.M.E.(Italian Professionals
in Chicago) donated $2,500
Michele Carbone, MD and Joseph
Amato, MD each donated $500.
CNH Global of Lake Forest donate
$5,000.
The Milano-Chicago Sister City
Committee donated $2,500
American Airlines, through Robert
Allegrini, will provide the air fare for Dr. Gregory Alegi
Hilton & Towers (Robert
Allegrini) hospitality for Countess Caproni and Gregory Alegi
Consul General Granara contributed
$5,000
ENIT (Dr. Lucchesi) has
contributed $2,700 and helped in organizing the cocktail reception at the
Daley
Arturo Filippo Lorioli donated
the commemorative lapel pins
Exhibit panels which will be
constructed by Giovanni Bucci, one
of Chicago's renowned designers and artists.
|
Recap: |
| Funds made available
as of February 15, 2002 |
|
|
| CG Granara |
$5,000
|
|
| NIAF (1) |
$1,000
|
|
| IME |
$2,500
|
|
| OSIA |
$1,500
|
|
| IIC |
$1,500
|
|
| Dr Amato |
$500
|
|
| Dr Carbone |
$500
|
|
Funds made available as
of February 28, 2002 |
|
|
| CNH Global |
$5,000
|
(through Italidea) |
| Milan Committee |
$2,500
|
|
| CIB Bank |
$1,000
|
|
| Lou Rago (H.R.F.) |
$500
|
|
| S.A.C.A. |
$500
|
|
Funds made available as
of April 30, 2002: |
|
|
| Boeing |
$5,000
|
|
| Aerea Spa. |
$1,500
|
|
| Gullo International |
$1,000
|
|
| CCC |
$500
|
|
| FIERI |
$500
|
|
| AIDA |
$500
|
|
| Comm. D DiFrisco |
$500
|
|
| Lord Bissel & Brook |
$500
|
|
| Dr. Bruno Contis, MD |
$500
|
|
| Mr. Battiato |
$100
|
|
Other funds/resources: |
|
|
| ENIT (Panels) |
$2,700
|
|
| JCCIA |
$3,000
|
(to the Caliendo Band) |
AMERICAN AIRLINES
ticket for Dr. Alegi
NIAF (2)
insurance for posters (period May 15/June 15)
NIAF (3)
printing of invitations (Buddy Romano)
NIAF (4)
catering for IIC lecture/press conf. May 15 (Cirrincione)
Phil Stefani (around 70
persons including VIP guests)
[other pledges - estimated]
Turano Bakeries
[not specified]
Ivo Cozzini
[not specified]
---------------------------------------------------------------
Total so far
$38,700
|
| ST.
LOUIS |
Agenda:
May 16,
2002 - Reception
with H.E. Ferdinando Salleo, Italian Ambassador to the USA at St. Louis
University, Carlo Auditorium in Tegeler Hall;
June 5,
2002 - "De
Pinedo: il Lindbergh italiano?" at Italiano per piacere;
July 1 -
July 14, 2002 - Historical Photographic Exhibit
from the Italian Air Force Archives at the Museum of Transportation
(Invitation);
July 17,
2002 - "De Pinedo and the wings of Italy"
at the Italian Club of St. Louis. |
Confirmed
sponsors and events: |
The St. Louis celebration will
begin Thursday, May 16
www.ItalySt.com/pride is the
Official Web Site, hosted by Venmar Systems, Inc.
FIAO (Federation of Italian-American
Organizations)
Franco Giannotti to develop
and maintain this official web site
FIAO and leading It-Am organizations
will sponsor the St. Louis celebration
Stato Maggiore Aeronautica/Ministero
Difesa, Roma has supplied 52 photographs to be exhibited in St. Louis and
subsequently Springfield (Illinois), Madison e Milwaukee (Wisconsin), Kansas
City e Omaha, Denver e Grand Junction (Colorado) and New Orleans (Louisiana). 
AEREA S.p.a. of Italy has contributed
$1500 toward the mounting and framing of the 52 DePinedo photographs.
St. Louis University providing
the logistics for the Ambassador Reception
|
| Working
on: |
|
Potential location and donors
to transfer "Wings of Italy" exhibit to St. Louis after Chicago.
Pledges to cover expenses and
selection of venues
|
|
|
|
|
|
rooted
and, once again, we honor the
man who, 75 years ago, was met
by squadrons of American military planes
from Chanute and the Great Lakes Naval Center, lined up in honor
guard formation to escort his Santa Maria directly to
Chicago's lakefront. A din of horns, bells, sirens, and whistles
from the surrounding boats rose up with
the cheers of thousands of Chicagoans as
a Coast Guard tender pulled the plane in
for mooring at the Chicago Yatch Club. The aviators
stepped on shore and were literally mobbed by the
city's Italians, who surged forward to greet them with embraces,
kisses, and hearty slaps on the back. That afternoon,
Pinedo heard Mass at Holy Name cathedral,
and afterwards paid a visit to Cardinal Mundelein, who
eloquently praised the flyer for his achievements. During a banquet that
evening at the Palmer House, he concluded his speech by
humorously noting that the absence of alcohol obliged him to
postpone the pleasure of properly toasting Chicago.
Within a very short time he would be back in Italy, and
there, he pledged, he would lift a glass to the city.
celebrations.
Experts claim that the DePinedo's
feat was Lindbergh's final inspiration
to make his historic trip two months
after DePinedo's landing in the United States and less than a week after
his scheduled touchdown in St. Louis which had to be aborted and changed
to a fly over due to inclement weather. Constant rains had flooded
the Midwest throughout the spring of 1927, and the Santa Maria had departed
from New Orleans against yet another heavy thunderstorm, beginning its
northward run over the swollen Mississippi on May 14th. Headwinds
severely taxed the plane's fuel supply, and the Italians had to make an
unscheduled stop at Memphis, passing the night there to wait out the storm
and canceling the stop at St. Louis. The disappointed citizens of that
city, who had lined the Mississippi banks under umbrellas in anticipation
of the S-55's arrival, were given only a quick glimpse of the flying boat
as it sped across the gray skies overhead.
