Iowans Receive Message from Mayor of Terravecchia, Italy

Mayor Mauro Santora of Terravecchia, Italy, has prepared the following video message for the 2011 Oelwein Italian Heritage Day.  The video also includes family photos of those who immigrated to Iowa from Terravecchia and their families.  Also included are photos of Terravecchia taken by Donna Debartolo from her recent trip there.

Below the video is the English translation of Mayor Santora’s message.

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Hello, my name is Mauro Santoro, Mayor of Terravecchia.  Greetings to all of you who are originally from Terravecchia and  who now live in the United States.  I send you all my personal regards, along with the regards of my administration, the Vice Mayor, our City Council and all the citizens of Terravecchia.  All of us feel very close to all of you who have lived for many years in the United States of America.

In particular, I remember from my research, that there were many families who left Terravecchia  from the years 1901 through 1923 and emigrated to the United States. In particular, I cite the descendants of these emigrants who, even though they have never seen Terravecchia, maintain their connections to our city.   Above all, when they offer their contributions for our patron saint Madonna del Carmine’s feast day. This event is honored and celebrated each year on the first Tuesday after Easter. We celebrate her day with lots of great music and entertainment for one and all.

I would like to acknowledge some of the families who emigrated from Terravecchia, especially the  families Comite, Leo, members of the Pigneri family, Raiolo,  Pisano, Farago, the families Sposato, Baratta, Brufonaro, Rizzuti, Bisignano, Santoro, Alessio, Vulcano, Scigliano, Scorpiniti,  Liguori,  Pirillo, Filippelli, Ciangiaruso, Marasco and Amodeo. Surely I am forgetting some family names, but you must forgive me because these are some very old surnames and it is difficult to remember all of them. However,  I remember all of those fellow citizens who found it necessary leave Terravecchia for America. I send special greeting to the children, grandchildren and all the relatives of our emigrants.

I am very happy to hear that you all get together each year to celebrate and to remember your roots.  The community of Terravecchia feels very close to all of you. I want you to know that I, and the city administration, feel very close to all of you. We thank you for your monetary gifts, especially  those you sent to us after the World Wars.  These gifts helped to sustain the families here and helped them emerge from a disastrous situation.

I am happy  that many of you  and your family members, feel the desire and the need to rediscover your roots and come here to visit us.  I am very passionate about historical research and have written six books about Terravecchia.  It pleases me greatly when I am able to provide historical data which helps people connect to their roots in Terravecchia.

I invite all of you to come to Terravecchia. I, along with some of my City’s officials,  hope to visit all of you in America to participate in one of your reunions there so that you will feel even closer to the community of Terravecchia and shorten the geographical distance between us.

Terravecchia remains a very small town, but one that is growing economically. A town that keeps the old memories and traditions alive. For example, in the way in which we celebrate the feast of our Patron Saint Madonna del Carmine each Spring with great honor. This year  2011, in particular, we are having a party  to celebrate 90 years of our re-establishment as an autonomous  city.  In 1910 Terravecchia was assumed as a part of the City of Cariati, and then in 1921, Terravecchia was re-established as a separate city. We announce with joy that in August, our Church of Santa Maria will be named a Diocesan Sanctuary by our Archbishop, Santo Marciano. This is a great honor for us, to be recognized.  To know and understand our deeply religious history is a boost for the city as many pilgrims and visitors will come here to pray.

I renew my best regards to all of you, your families, and encourage you to maintain this connection.  And I, along with other city officials, hope to visit you all in America soon.   Again, I thank you for your attention.  Best wishes and prosperity to all of you. Have fun and our very best to you all.

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