How great would that be?????

There is a special message hidden in this article. I interpret it to mean, that one must be willing to fight a lot of battles, and even lose a lot of battles, but NEVER
give up.

Through Persistence Tenacity, and Perseverance much is possible, often prizes not even expected.

Example: Three years ago, I came across the Antonio Meucci Web Site of Basilio Catania, an eminent Italian Telecommunications expert, who was also an expert on Antonio Meucci, having written a 4 volume treatise on the inventor of the Telephone.

I started to advance the Meucci cause, and was met initially with great resistance by Italian American academics, who warned me I was going to embarrass myself, and the community. But backed by Basilio Catania's overwhelming evidence, I continued to beat the drum.

NIAF and OSIA picked up the baton, lobbied Congress and were able to have them pass a Resolution anointing Meucci the TRUE Inventor of the Telephone. Terrific!!!

Italy was so thrilled that Italian Americans had fought so hard for recognition for Meucci, an Italian, that politicians in Italy battled to see who could out-ceremony the  other.

Taking a cue from the Meucci episode, and recognizing the importance that Italian Americans placed on Columbus, someone up to that point of no particular significance in Italy, FIFTEEN HUNDRED (1,500) Italian organizations have assembled behind the Columbus Day initiative, one of the few non religious national holidays, and the only one to honor an individual. It is hoped to be a reality by the  500th anniversary of Columbus' death in 2006.

How powerful a seed we sometimes plant!!!!! Thank you Basilio !!!!
Could you ever have imagined how extensive the results of your project??
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CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS-- A NEW ITALIAN HOLIDAY?

After 500 years Christopher Columbus may finally get recognition in Italy... his land of birth.

Americans have long been celebrating Columbus Day on October 12, the date he first landed in the New World in 1492.

One of the first known celebrations marking the discovery of the "New World" by Christopher Columbus was in 1792, when a ceremony organized by the Colombian Order was held in New York City honoring Christopher Columbus and the 300th anniversary of his landing in the Bahamas.

Then, on October 12, 1866 the Italian population of New York organized the first celebration of the discovery of America. Three years later, in 1869 Italians in San Francisco celebrated October 12 calling it C-Day.

To mark the 400th anniversary of Columbus' voyage, in 1892, President Benjamin Harrison made a commemorative proclamation. But it was Colorado, in 1905, that became the first state to observe a Columbus Day.

Since 1920 the day has been celebrated annually, and in 1937 President Franklin Roosevelt proclaimed every October 12 as Columbus Day. That's where it remained until 1971 when Congress declared it a federal public holiday on the second Monday in October.

Although Italy has one of the highest number of public holidays at more than 16 per year, almost all of them are religious. The proposed Columbus Day, Oct. 12, would also be the first national Italian holiday to celebrate an individual.

By design, Italians, who refer to the explorer as Cristoforo Colombo, intend to call the holiday "Columbus Day" in English.

After persistence and tenacious efforts, Italian Americans were successful in lobbying Congress in 2002 for recognition of Italian Antonio Meucci as inventor of the telephone. Thereafter, Italian politicians clamored to heap honors on this inventor who died in the US, not only without any recognition, but reviled by a corporate adversary, and died in poverty.

City officials of Florence, Meucci's birthplace, have proposed a bas-relief in the Santa Croce church. Many local sons are so honored, even though, like Dante, they died in exile.

1,500 Italian organizations are behind the Columbus Day initiative, and are hopeful an early start will enable them to be successful prior to the 2006 anniversary.