The US Ambassador to the UN Agencies in Rome, Ertharin Cousin, meets the President of the Italy-USA Foundation Hon. Rocco Girlanda. Ambassador Cousin, since many years a friend and a supporter of President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle, passed on her congratulations to the Italy-USA Foundation.
The press conference to present the new edition of the event “Scala meets New York” was held in Naples, at Campania Region. Among the people participating in the press conference the Governor of Campania Region, Stefano Caldoro, the Mayor of Scala Luigi Mansi, the President of Italy-USA Foundation Rocco Girlanda. Many events will be organized by the Foundation in the rich program of cultural, spiritual, artistic and political activities, from August 11 on Amalfi Coast, included the exhibition of the Italy-USA Foundation “An American day”. Finally the participation of the President of the Foundation Rocco Girlanda in the “Memorial Day” on September 11 with national and international personalities, the Italian and American national anthems, the honor picket, that will conclude the month of events. The ceremony will be televised by Raiuno television, with the journalist Massimo Giletti.
Eurofilm, R&C Produzioni, Roissy Films and Rai Cinema is organizing, under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation, the American showing of the movie “The Sicilian Girl” by Marco Amenta. The film is inspired by the true story of Rita Atria. The event will be held in New York on August 4, 2010 at Film Forum Theatre. The movie unfolds like an ancient tragedy set in the picturesque landscape of Sicily. It is a universal story, the story of resistance to oppression, the story of man fighting against his own destiny. Emphasizing the dramatic life of Rita, the movie attempts to give a perspective on women belonging to Mafia families bearing silently or fighting unwritten rules and codes. The movie aims to be both a tribute and a symbol of hope. For the women fighting Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian girl becomes a symbol. The movie is produced with the sponsorship of Sicily Region and the Italian Ministry of Culture.
SSG Salvatore Giunta, a paratrooper of the 173rd Airborne, is the first living Medal of Honor recipient since the Vietnam War. He earned this by charging a group of Taliban who were trying to make off with a wounded comrade in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration. “Italy and the United States have been exchanging culture, goods, and traditions for a long time, making it clear that neither one of the two countries would be what it is today without the contribution from the other. I am pleased to offer cordial congratulations to the SSG Salvatore Giunta on the occasion of the Medal of Honor. I am sure that this award to a brave Italian American soldier will further strengthen the bonds of friendship that exist between Italy and United States of America. We salute SSG Salvatore Giunta and all who serve or have served the friendship between our countries”, said the President of Italy-USA Foundation, Hon. Rocco Girlanda, in a letter sent to the US Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates.
The oldest town on the Amalfi Coast, Scala, meets New York, the most modern town in the world. The new edition of the event “Scala meets New York” will be held from August 11 to September 11, together with the Italy-USA Foundation and under the auspices of the President of Italian Republic. Many events will be organized by the Foundation in the rich program of cultural, spiritual, artistic and political activities, like the permanent exhibition on 9/11 and the participation of the President of the Foundation Hon. Rocco Girlanda in the conference with national and international personalities, that will conclude the month of events. In the photo, from left, Rocco Girlanda and the US Consul to Naples J. Patrick Truhn.
On occasion of the American tour of the Symphonic Orchestra of Rome under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation, the President of the Italian Republic Hon. Giorgio Napolitano sent a message to the Italy-USA Foundation, with his “best wishes for the tour and for the many prestigious activities of the Italy-USA Foundation. The Foundation contributes to the special friendship and relationship between Italy and United States, with common values, in particular the culture as factor of civil and social growth”. In the photo, the President Giorgio Napolitano meets the President of the Italy-USA Foundation, Rocco Girlanda, at the Quirinal Palace.
Aaron Tippin, considered to be one of the greatest country music performer, will hold the unique stage appearance in Italy on June 26, 2010, at the Voghera Country Festival under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation. Several of his albums made it into the top ten, like his post 9/11 song “Where the stars & stripes and the eagle fly”.
A delegation of the Italy-USA Foundation lead by the Hon. Rocco Girlanda, President of the Foundation, met in Perugia the President of the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association, Mike James. Below is a summary of the press release.
“I agree with the stand Mike James took: it is not against the city of Perugia we have to fight against, but against a miscarriage of justice. I hope a more positive picture is forming, recreating the friendship which ideally should be everywhere”. These were the words of Amanda Knox in a letter she addressed some days ago to the to the Italy-USA Foundation on the debate that ensued following the decision to put the naming of a Seattle park in honor of Perugia on hold and during the tour of the President of the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association, Mike James.
A delegation of the Italy-USA Foundation recently went to Seattle and also met with Mike James, who was in Perugia as a guest of the President of the Italy-USA Foundation, Hon. Rocco Girlanda.
“I had hoped that Seattle, of all places, could make the distinction between a long friendship, a sister-city relationship, and a verdict – said Mike James -. I believed we could honor that friendship and at the same time freely critique a verdict many of us found deeply disappointing. I believed we could, through the park, begin to see the real Perugia beyond the headlines. I hope we still can”.
“Italy and the US have always had a very strong bond of friendship of which history bears fitness – said the Hon. Rocco Girlanda -. I think that anyone wishing to really help Amanda should appeal to the friendship between our two countries rather than trying to destroy it. The relationship Seattle and Perugia embody such values and I sincerely hope the City of Seattle will choose this path, proceeding with the naming of the Seattle Park in honor of the city of Perugia. Amanda herself has repeatedly written to the Italy-USA Foundation and has personally stated her disagreement with those who are using her and the events to launch messages of hatred towards Italy”.
The Italy-USA Foundation was represented by its Executive Director, Hon. Catia Polidori, at the meetings with NIAF – National Italian American Foundation, which took place in Rome. NIAF sent a mission to Italy bringing together board members, business leaders and government officials to discuss key issues influencing cultural, economic, and diplomatic relations between the US and Italy.
The Symphony Orchestra of Rome, under the auspices of the Italy-USA Foundation, United Nations and FAO, for the very first time in a tour in the United States, starting on June 7 with a concert at the Carnegie Hall of New York and ending in Washington DC on June 20 with a concert dedicated to peace and the fight against hunger at the J.F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. The Orchestra will also perform in Morristown, Springfield, Boston, Trenton e Philadelphia. The Symphony Orchestra of Rome will perform at the Carnegie Hall of New York on June 7, at the Mayo Performing Arts Center of Morristown on June 8, at the Symphony Hall of Springfield on June 11, at the Symphony Hall of Boston on June 13, at the Memorial Hall of Trenton on June 15 and at the Verizon Hall at Kimmel Center of Philadelphia on June 18. A special concert dedicated to peace and the fight against hunger will close the tour with a last date at the J.F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts of Washington DC.
