Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian
Two longtime local leaders of the Italian American War Veterans’ Ladies Auxiliary have risen to positions of prominence.
Angela Rinaldi (right, in photo above) was elected to the post of national president in August at the national convention in Las Vegas, and Mille DiGilio (left) was elected state president in September at the state convention in Harwood Heights.
Rinaldi began her involvement in the organization in the early 1990s when she joined the Guido Belmonte Auxiliary #4.
She was elected state auxiliary president in 1995, serving a two-year term. In this position, she received recognition from the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs as well as the Italian American War Veterans.
In 1996 she received a proclamation from Governor Jim Edgar with respect for her service to these organizations.
In September 2013, she was elected again as state president for a one-year term.
In addition to serving as national president, she is also a Representative/Volunteer at the Jesse Brown Veterans Medical Center on the Near West Side of Chicago. In this position, she helps raise funds for hospitalized and homeless Veterans.
Di Gilio began her involvement with the James Cuzzone Auxiliary #5 in 1999, and has held numerous positions with the auxilary.
Within a short time, she was appointed to become part of the national auxiliary organization, for which she has served in numerous positions.
Her auxiliary has aided in fund raising for the Jesse Brown Veterans Hospital.
