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I
am an Italian-American. My roots are deep in an ancient soil, drenched
by the Mediterranean sun, and watered by pure streams from snow-capped
mountains.
I am enriched by thousands of years of culture.
My hands are those of the mason, the artist, the man of the soil.
My thoughts have been recorded in the annals of Rome, the poetry
of Virgil, the creations of Dante, and the philosophy of Benedetto
Croce. I am an Italian-American.
From my ancient world, I first spanned the seas to the New World.
I am Cristoforo Colombo.
I am Giovanni Caboto known in American history as John Cabot, discover
of the mainland of North America.
I am Amerigo Vespucci, who gave my name to the New World, America.
First to sail on the Great Lakes in 1679, founder of the territory
that became the State of Illinois, colonizer of Louisiana and Arkansas.
I am Enrico Tonti.
I am Filippo Mazzei, friend of Thomas Jefferson, and my thesis on
the equality of man was written into the Bill of Rights.
I am William Paca, signer of the Declaration of Independence. I
am an Italian-America.
I financed the Northwest Expedition of George Rogers Clark and accompanied
him through the lands that would become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin, and Michigan. I am Colonel Francesco Vigo.
I mapped the Pacific from Mexico to Alaska and to the Philippines.
I am Alessandro Malaspina.
I am Giacomo Beltrami, discover of the source of the Mississippi
River in 1823.
I created the Dome to the United States Capitol. They called me
the Michelangelo of America. I am Constantino Brumidi.
I 1904 I founded in San Francisco the Bank of Italy, now known as
the Bank of America, the largest financial institution in the world.
I am A. P. Giannini.
I am Enrico Fermi, father of nuclear science in America.
First enlisted man to win the Medal of Honor in World War II, I
am John Basilone of New Jersey.
…… by Angelo Bianchi, Esq.
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