By Francesco Isgro'

The Abruzzo and Molise Heritage Society of Washington, D.C., held a special dinner at Casa Italiana on Feb. 3, in honor of Michele Iorio, President of the Region of Molise. Iorio was in Washington to attend, among other events, the Annual National Prayer Breakfast organized by the White House and attended by President Obama and thousands of officials from around the globe.

A medical doctor by profession, Iorio was born in Morrone del Sannio, a small town in the province of Campobasso. He has been involved in politics since 1975, having been elected to various provincial, regional, and national offices, including his election in 2001 to the Camera dei Deputati and in 2006 to the Senate. He was elected President of Molise in 2001, followed by another 5-year term in 2006. On his reelection as regional president, Iorio gave up his Senate seat.

Iorio was welcomed to Casa Italiana by Omero Sabatini, current President of the Abruzzo and Molise Society. Also welcoming Iorio were Jan Fenty, mother of Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty, Ambassador Connie Morella, former Congresswoman from Maryland, and Marco Mancini, First Counselor at the Italian Embassy. Father Francis Tiso, a priest of the Diocese of Isernia-Venafro, and Associate Director of the Secretariat for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, gave the invocation.

In his remarks, Iorio expressed his thanks and gratitude to the Society and to the more than 100 guests who joined him at Casa Italiana. Noting the presence of a young Molisana, Anna Marzullo, who is the U.S. representative to the Consiglio dei Giovani Molisani nel Mondo, Iorio spoke about the importance of keeping young people involved in the work of associations so that the traditions of culture, language, history, passion and character are not only preserved but reinvigorated.

Iorio observed that when he travels throughout the world he brings the pride not only of the President of Molise but of all the Molisani who live outside the region. He noted that a recent census indicated that there were 900,000 Molisani throughout the world and only 320,000 in Molise and that he hoped to become the president of a Region of Molise of one million people so that they can be stronger and stimulate further business, cultural and scientific exchange.
“Le storie degl’Italiani nel mondo sono davvero delle storie bellissime e sono delle storie significative,” said Iorio. “I would like to represent Molise,” but “more than Abruzzesi and Molisani we are also Italians and very proud of our heritage and of all we have accomplished throughout the world,” he said.

Noting that among the regional displays at Casa Italiana were photographs from last century’s Monongah mine disaster, he said that the history of that tragedy had been overlooked by the national and international media.

He recalled how moving it was for him to visit Monongah last year, together with Molisani from other parts of the of world, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the tragedy. At that ceremony, the Region of Molise donated a church bell that had been cast in the Molise town of Agnone. “Monongah,” he said, “represents the symbol of our emigration and the sacrifices made by many for the benefit of future generations.”

Contributing to the evening’s success was Eileen Parise, who served as the master of ceremonies. The evening’s dinner was especially prepared by Massimo (Max) Mazziotti and his brother Sabatino Mazziotti, who operate “Pasta Plus” restaurant (see page 11 for a review), and Rocco Caniglia, owner of the family restaurant, “Mama Mia.” •

(Published in Voce Italiana, February 2009)
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