fellow Italian Americans NOT give up on the Petition for a Commemorative Stamp
for Gunnery Sergeant "Manila John" Basilone, who was the only enlisted Marine
in World War II to receive the Purple Heart, the Navy Cross and the Medal of
Honor.
Michael opines that: "One would think, given the routinely commemorative
stamps are issued for various trivialities, nonevents and nonentities,
that
it would be a "no-brainer" to honor a genuine hero. Apparently it's
not."
The Washington Times, reported on March 10, 2002 "Stamp still barred
for
'Manila John' "
"An appeal to Congress and more than 150,000 signatures have failed
to
persuade an advisory panel to support a postage stamp honoring a heroic
Marine sergeant who after earning The Medal of Honor, and spearheaded
War
Bond rallies in the US, elected to return to the warfront, and died
at Iwo
Jima after taking out an enemy installation earning the Navy Cross
and Purple
Heart posthumously.
"John Basilone was a hero in the truest sense of the word," said
Representative Bill Pascrell Jr., New Jersey Democrat, who convinced
29 other
House members to introduce a bill pressuring the Citizens' Stamp Advisory
Committee to recommend a stamp with Sergeant Basilone's picture on
it."
Dona de Sanctis, Deputy Executive Director, of The Sons of Italy reports
that:
" The stamp is still very viable. OSIA is working with NJ Congressman
Bill
Pascrell, Manny Alfano and other activists, petitioning the US postal
service
for it."
"So far we have collected 150,000 signatures on petitions....and still
going
strong. See the Spring issue of ITALIAN AMERICA for an update.
Our
magazine will be mailed out during the next two weeks."
Dr. Manny Alfano of IAOV (Italian American One Voice) reports IAOV is
still
collecting signatures and sending them to Congressman Bill Pascrell.
<A HREF="http://www.italianamericanonevoice.org/iapetition.html">Petition
For
Separate Commemorative Stamp Honoring Sgt. John Basilone</A>
http://www.italianamericanonevoice.org/iapetition.html
If you need any further convincing to "Sign Up", please see.....
<A HREF="http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/johnbasi.htm">John Basilone,
Gunnery Sergeant, United States Marine Corps</A>
(Arlington Cemetary.Com)
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/johnbasi.htm
<A HREF="http://www.marineswwii.com/basilone.htm">Sergeant "Manila
John"
Basilone</A> (MarinesWWII.Com)
http://www.marineswwii.com/basilone.htm
<A HREF="http://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/manila.htm">An American
Hero --
"Manila" John Basilone</A> (La Gazzetta)
http://www.lagazzettaitaliana.com/manila.htm
<A
HREF="http://www.military.com/HomePage/UserCreatedTributePage/0,10980,702127,0
0.html">Welcome to John Basilone Tribute Page</A> (Military.Com)
http://www.military.com/HomePage/UserCreatedTributePage/0,10980,702127,00.html
<A HREF="http://www.cimorelli.com/pie/heroes/basilone.htm">John
Basilone -
Italian-American Marine Hero</A>
http://www.cimorelli.com/pie/heroes/basilone.htm
