With the permission of my kind readers, who were nice enough not to bring to my attention that I had moved the Capitol of Massachusetts from Boston to Providence, Rhode Island, I'm going to move it back. :)

Today the Globe followed up on the Herald story of yesterday that neglected to mention that DiMasi was joined by DeNucci, Representative DeLeo, and other
Italian-American politicians who gathered in the State House yesterday to celebrate their success, and kick off Italian American Heritage Month.

A group of more than 60 people heard speeches celebrating Italian writers, singers, war heroes, and leaders, while sharing tales of hardships faced by the community over the years.

I found the comments of State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, who was in attendance yesterday, rather touching: Cahill, who said he is Italian ''by marriage," told of the joy he felt while watching the Olympics with his children when they sang the Italian national anthem for an Italian gold medalist.

''It showed their pride not only in the Americans who had been successful in Olympics," Cahill said, ''but also in the Italians with whom they felt a connection. And it's a connection I feel as well through my marriage, my in-laws, and my family."

Cahill's got my vote for Honorary member of the Italian American Massachusetts Political Caucus!  :)

In a place where the Irish have ruled, from O'Neill to Flaherty to Finneran, Italian-Americans gathered in the State House yesterday to celebrate their success and kick off Italian American Heritage Month with newly elected House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi.

''It's very important for me to attain this position," said DiMasi, who received a standing ovation. ''It's very significant for Italian-Americans in this state, as well as this country."

DiMasi's grandparents emigrated from the Campania region of Italy, near Naples. He praised them and his parents for his success. ''We were very fortunate in our family -- the love of family and our neighbors and the community; that is where I fell in love with my values," DiMasi said.

Joined by Auditor Joseph DeNucci, Representative Robert A. DeLeo, and other Italian-American politicians, the group of more than 60 people heard speeches celebrating Italian writers, singers, war heroes, and leaders, while sharing tales of hardships faced by the community over the years.

''I can remember the discrimination," said DeNucci, recalling the epithets that served to spur his own ambition. ''It is so nice to finally see Italian-Americans on top here in state government, but we have a long way to go. We're still stereotyped -- we saw that in the papers about Sal's election. We're still stereotyped as Italians. We're the goodfellas, the gangsters."

DiMasi, the state's first Italian-American House speaker, joins Senate President Robert E. Travaglini at the top of the Legislature, Joe DeNucci as State Auditor,and Mayor Thomas M. Menino as Boston's first Italian-American mayor.

''It is no coincidence that so many Italian-Americans have excelled in positions of public trust --...We have a sense of duty that carries us toward public service [that] comes from our sense of community," said . DeLeo, a Winthrop Democrat.

State Treasurer Timothy P. Cahill, who was in attendance yesterday, said he is proud of DiMasi.

''If given the chance, [DiMasi] will dispel many of the stereotypes that followed the Italian race in this country, and I am proud he is the new speaker," he said.

Cahill, who said he is Italian ''by marriage," told of the joy he felt while watching the Olympics with his children when they sang the Italian national anthem for an Italian gold medalist.

''It showed their pride not only in the Americans who had been successful in Olympics," Cahill said, ''but also in the Italians with whom they felt a connection. And it's a connection I feel as well through my marriage, my in-laws, and my family."

Italian American Heritage Month was first celebrated six years ago under then-Governor Paul Cellucci to honor the history and contributions of Italians in the United States. The Italian Heritage and Culture Month Committee has organized events throughout the month, including art exhibitions, musical performances, and lectures.

''I think this new generation of Menino, DiMasi, DeNucci, and Travaglini is changing the perception of Italians," said Dino Garvani of Medford, a member of the Dante Alighieri Society, which promotes the study of Italian and is coordinating events this month. ''There was a fiction about Italians"...

Boston.com / News / Local / Mass. / A salute to Italian-Americans
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/
articles/2004/10/02/a_salute_to_italian_americans/