The Italian American Veterans Museum ushered in a new slate of officers with the new year, electing retired Navy Cdr. Joseph Edward Troiani, Ph.D., as president. “I’m proud to serve as president of the museum in honor of family members who served in the military before me,” Troiani says. Troiani’s grandfather Joseph Troiani served in the U.S. Army during World […]
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Officers of the American Legion Department of Illinois, 9th District, and 9th District Auxiliary, held their Post Everlasting ceremony at Casa Italia on March 23. The ceremony is held annually in remembrance of 9th District Legion Family members who died over the last year. Representing the 9th District Legion were Commander Greg Jacobs; Sr. Vice Commander Lorenzo Fiorentino; Jr. Adjutant […]
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Retired Army Major Lorenzo Fiorentino wowed an appreciative crowd with his knowledge of Illinois military monuments at an Aug. 22 presentation at the Italian American Veterans Museum. An author of a book on the subject, Fiorentino departed from the text to share several stories not covered in the pages of his well-researched and richly illustrated volume. Audience members were treated […]
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IAVM board member Lorenzo Fiorentino was among a group of Veterans who organized a parade in front of the Jefferson Park home of Hillard Dominowski to celebrate the WW II Veteran’s 100th birthday. Dominowski grew up in Wicker Park and spent six months in a German prison camp during WW II. “About a dozen veterans drove six vehicles, including a […]
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November 8, 2020, was a very special day in River Grove, Illinois. With the sun shining down on an unseasonably warm afternoon, the American Legion Post 335 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5979 dedicated the Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library and Honor Roll. What an amazing way to honor our Veterans. In 2019, I became the Commander of […]
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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 […]
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An officer in the Army for 20 years, Lorenzo Fiorentino was in charge of anti-terrorism at a base in Kabul that housed the Three Star General Command. The youngest of four children, Lorenzo Fiorentino was born in Casteldaccia, Sicily, to Pietro and Rosalia (Canale). His father became ill and could no longer work the farm, and in 1972, the family […]
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While Army Major Lorenzo Fiorentino was stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan, from March 2004 to March 2005, he noticed that the Afghan people could make just about anything. Within weeks, he organized a bazaar at his military base where local vendors could sell their wares, stimulating the economy and giving the soldiers an opportunity to buy gifts to mail home to […]
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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. […]
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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 […]
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