Joe Fabiani saw his share of action as a light weapons squad leader with the 2nd Division, 23rd Infantry, East Company, during the Korean War, revealing those sometimes harrowing experiences as part of the Melrose Park Library’s Veterans History Project several years back. Five years after his passing, his niece Sandra Donovan donated a recording of that interview to the […]
Read More
On June 25, Tom Pacyga stopped by the Italian American Veterans Museum to donate a practice bomb that had been used in the training of Navy air crews on Lake Michigan during World War II. Hollow and deceptively light, the bomb had been gathering dust in Pacyga’s garage for decades. He was inspired to make the donation after seeing publicity […]
Read More
Army veteran Michael Holub offered a rousing introduction to one of the Army’s most elite regiments at a June 27 presentation at the museum. A member of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment during his tour of duty in the 1970s, Holub now spreads the word as a spokesperson for the Old Guard Association. Known as the Old Guard, the regiment […]
Read More
On January 3, Lorenzo Fiorentino and Richard Wojewnik picked up a large quantity of books and records from the Italian American Veterans Museum and placed them on the shelves of the recently opened Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library and Honor Wall. Fiorentino and Wojewnik are members of the American Legion Post 335 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5979, which […]
Read More
Retired Army Colonel and museum board President Renato Bacci recently represented the Italian American Veterans Museum in a virtual signing of a Statement of Support for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). The Statement of Support demonstrates an organization’s commitment to those two branches of the military. Illinois ESGR State Chair Laurie Silvey and Employer Outreach Co-Director Scott Klein hosted the ceremony via Zoom […]
Read More
The Italian American Veterans Museum was a socially distanced beehive of activity on Columbus Day, with more than 17 visitors passing through its doors on the afternoon of Oct. 12, 2020. Strict protocols were followed, with everybody wearing masks, using hand sanitizer, and occupancy limited to groups of no more than 10 family members and friends at a time. Board […]
Read More
The Italian American Veterans Museum will receive unprecedented media play in October thanks to ABC 7 and the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. JCCIA President Sergio Giangrande recommended the museum for coverage during Italian Heritage Month and the station’s programming department sent out producer Justyna Syska, videographer Corinthian Burt and stagehand Ryan Lyons to interview museum President Renato Bacci […]
Read More
IAVM President Renato (Ron) Bacci recently joined Shalom (Scott) Klein on his weekly radio show, “Get Down to Business,” to discuss the history and work of the Italian American Veterans Museum. The seven-minute interview was aired at 6:30 p.m. on July 5 on AM 560 (WIND) radio. Shalom is an avid networker and dedicated entrepreneur. On his Sunday evening show, […]
Read More
The American Legion First Division, Department of Illinois, held its Commander’s Breakfast at the Italian American Veterans Museum on Feb. 8. On hand to open the museum and welcome the august assemblage was IAVM board member and American Legion Post 335 Commander Lorenzo Fiorentino. First Division Commander Gigi Callaway hosted the meeting, which included Illinois Senior Vice Commander Wayne L. […]
Read More
The January meeting of the board of directors was a momentous occasion, with museum President Paul Basile and his fellow civilian officers making room for a whole new cadre of leaders with extensive military background. Basile passed the gavel to retired Army Col. Renato Bacci. Joining him at the top are retired Navy Com. Joseph Troiani (first vice president), retired […]
Read More
