The Italian American Veterans Museum has banded together with four other veterans museums from across the Chicago area to create a game-changing venture in Addison. The Chicagoland Veterans Campus will be located at 39 Army Trail Boulevard in a stately 100-year-old former school building owned by St. Paul Lutheran Church. Participating in the creation of the campus are the Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum & Library (CCVML), Camp Grant Historical Society Museum, Hellenic American Veterans Memorial & Museum, Italian American Veterans Museum (IAVM) and 10th Mountain Division Museum. Spearheading the project is CCVML President Lorenzo Fiorentino, a retired Army Major and …
Read More »The power to move mountains
“Many hands make light work,” the Old Testament tells us, and that time-honored proverb is as true today as it was when the Jewish people rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls 2,500 years ago. For proof of that, you need look no further than Casa Italia during the holiday season. As many of you know, the village of Stone Park bought the property on which the Casa stands from the Missionaries of St. Charles in the waning months of 2024. Opinions may differ, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s a win-win-win situation. The Scalabrinians have been well compensated and the village has …
Read More »Renato Bacci to preside over veterans museum
Retired Army Col. Renato Bacci has been elected by the board of directors to helm the Italian American Veterans Museum. Joining him as officers are retired Navy Commander Joseph Troiani as first vice president, retired Army Maj. Lorenzo Fiorentino as second vice president, Army veteran Mark DiSanto third vice president, Steve Corbo as treasurer, Eugene Giudice as parliamentarian and Paul Basile as corporate secretary and executive vice president. The officers were installed by community leader Joanne Spata. During his 30-year military career, Bacci served as an infantry, armor, and civil affairs officer, with tours of duty in Bosnia, Croatia, Germany, …
Read More »Army Major Lorenzo Fiorentino (Middle East)
An officer in the Army for 20 years, Lorenzo Fiorentino was in charge of anti-terrorism at a base in Kabul that housed the Three Star General Command. The youngest of four children, Lorenzo Fiorentino was born in Casteldaccia, Sicily, to Pietro and Rosalia (Canale). His father became ill and could no longer work the farm, and in 1972, the family immigrated to Chicago, where they lived with Rosalia’s sister and her family. His mother supported them as a seamstress until his father recovered and began working in a factory. Fiorentino grew up near Pulaski Road and North Avenue and …
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Fra Noi Embrace Your Inner Italian