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Thank you to Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, General Peter Pace, Armand Sabitoni, Claudio Bozzo, and all the sponsors, supporters and more than 800 guests of the Sons of Italy Foundation's (SIF) 24th Annual National Education & Leadership Awards Gala on May 23. The 2012 NELA Gala was a spectacular representation of the best of Italian America and the United States of America! If you missed it, please enjoy the highlights below; visit our Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages for more; and also view the entire NELA Gala journal online. Most important, mark your calendars for May 23, 2013, when the Sons of Italy Foundation will celebrate the 25th Anniversary NELA Gala!
All photos ©Max Taylor unless otherwise noted.
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 | | The Sons of Italy Foundation's National Leadership Grant (scholarship) recipients (left to right starting from back row): Nicholas Bruno; SSG Jason Ragel, US Army; Matthew Volpe; Dominick DeLucia; Ryan Lindeborg; Matthew Puglisi; Andrew Mascelli; and Gina Cerruti |
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 | | See the 2012 NELA Gala journal online. |
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View General Pace's remarks on YouTube.
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 | | Gen. Peter Pace, USMC (Ret.), 16th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, accepts the Special Award for Courage & Patriotism from Cpt. Tony Odierno, USA (Ret.), the 2010 recipient of the same award, and Adm. Ed Giambastiani, USN (Ret.), 7th Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. |
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 | Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton received the Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service. Unable to attend due to State Department commitments, the Secretary sent a special message to NELA Gala guests
by video. |
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 | | Sen. Jack Reed (RI), recipient of the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service, is greeted by Sons of Italy Foundation CEO Phil Piccigallo (right). |
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 | | Mediterranean Shipping Company President Claudio Bozzo receives the Award for Excellence in Business from Simone Bemporad (right), CEO of Finmeccanica North America. |
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 | | Actress Connie Stevens, a previous SIF honoree, greets General Peter Pace. |
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 | | Previous SIF honoree Bob Juliano (left) with Michael Sacco, president of the Seafarers International Union. |
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 | Adm. Ed Giambastiani (left) greets Italy's Ambassador to the United States Claudio Bisogniero and Mrs. Laura Denise Bisogniero
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 | LiUNA's Armand Sabitoni talks with Sen. Jack Reed, last year's recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award for Public Service.
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 | | Laborers' International Union of North America Secretary-Treasurer Armand Sabitoni receives the Humanitarian Award from Robert Scardelletti (right), national president of the Transportation Communications Union and the 2009 recipient of the award. (Photo courtesy New England Laborers) |
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 | Tenor Michael Amante performs a moving
tribute to the United States armed forces
and all those who have served or are serving. Sons of Italy Foundation sponsors generously hosted the attendance of a few dozen active members of the military and veterans at the NELA Gala.
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 | Elaine Rogers, president of the USO of Metropolitan Washington, and her husband with General Peter
Pace (center).
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Previous SIF honoree Dr.Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease at NIH (left); Linda Munson, president of the Charles Evans Foundation; SIF CEO Phil Piccigallo; Cpt. Tony Odierno, secretary of the board of the Wounded Warrior Project
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SIF President Vincent Sarno (center) with
NELA Gala guests
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 | SIF Chairman Joseph DiTrapani (left) with previous SIF Trustee Joseph Cicippio
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 | Three Purple Heart recipients: Iraq War veterans Joe Bowser (left) and Cpt. Tony Odierno (right), with WWII veteran Willie Novelli
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 | | Former Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush Anita McBride talks with General Peter Pace before the NELA program begins. |
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 | | The National Building Museum, setting for the 24th Annual NELA Gala |
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 | Craig and Veronica Floyd. Mr Floyd is the Chairman and CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial Fund.
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 | The Sons of Italy paid tribute to our country's men and women in uniform and their loved ones.
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 | | LiUNA members attend the NELA to support their Secretary-Treasurer Armand Sabitoni. |
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 | Master of Ceremonies Joe Mantegna prepares to
tweet a picture of the NELA Gala audience. |
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 | | His tweet is successful! |
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 | | Guests enjoying the cocktail reception. |
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 | A Fiat 500 Gucci model was on display at the reception. (Photo courtesy New England Laborers)
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#nelagala
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