“FONDAZIONE HERITAGE” degli Emigrati “onlus”
Consegnato al Senatore USA Joe Manchin già Governatore del West Virginia, il PREMIO dell’ORDINE “LA SILA”.
Di seguito l’intervento del Dott. François Xavier Nicoletti, fondatore Presidente CdA “FONDAZIONE HERITAGE” degli emigrati, prima di consegnare l’AWARD al senatore.
ORDER OF “LA SILA”
INDUCTION OF SENATOR Joe MANCHIN III
28th April 2013
Before make my speech, I wish to tell you that the Mayor of San Giovanni in Fiore, Antonio Barile, the City Council and the people of San Giovanni in Fiore send best wishes to the people of West Virginia and greetings and congratulations to our best friend, Senator Manchin III and his family.
The Mayor hopes to see you in Calabria soon.
Good evening
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Paesani carissimi,
Please allow me to say that tonight I am a very happy man, extremely grateful to all of you.
I feel good, I feel honoured to be part of this important event. The induction of our loved friend Joe Manchin III as a Tall Pine in the order of La Sila.
We emigrants of Calabria in the four continents very much appreciate what Calabrian emigrants have done in West Virginia : since the year 1880 your ancestors, your grandfathers and fathers are wonderful part of the fabric of this beautiful country…
La Sila and West Virginia have the same aroma, the same fragrance, the same flora, the same fauna, the same flowers. This is one of the reasons why we have learned to overcome, because of your fathers overcame and they overcame because of their strong faith in God and their strength of character : strong like the legendary Tall Pines of our Sila, located very near San Giovanni in Fiore, they are known as the Giganti of Sallustro, the Giganti of La Sila, which they look at us with sympathy. They are 355 year old and the pines around them are 150 year old.
The Fairmont State Universtiy and the University of Calabria’s efforts to continue and extend the Students Exchange Program, among many other teaching responsabilities, is a big support to the development of opportunities for the calabrian young students to help them find a job.
In Calabria, in Italy we desperately ask for NEEDS, not WORDS.
My dearest friends, tonight, I have a dream, I have actually two dreams : one for you my beloved West Virginia – that from among you a Tall Pine, a Gigante, Joe Manchin III – whose roots stretch from Sila, will become the next President of the United States of America, and the second dream is for Italy – that the newly established government will address the serious conditions of the country and a new generation – a new crop of Tall Pines – will restore Italy’s economic and social landscape. Let us pray that these dreams come true : may God protect Joe Manchin and his family, may God protect America, Calabria, Italy and the World.I would like to thank you for listening to me.
I love you ALL.
François-Xavier Nicoletti