National Italian-American Heritage month was established by the United States Congress in October 1989 to recognize Italian-Americans’ contributions to American society and highlight the impact of the Italian-American community on American culture. And while “inclusion” is a popular buzzword in today’s politically correct climate, the concept is nothing new to Italian Americans, many of whom have been practicing inclusion for years.

Many present-day leaders hold back on the visibility of their Italian heritage, but I want to share one organization’s commitment to honoring all native and immigrant ancestors: The black granite monument that has greeted visitors in the courtyard of the Courthouse and Government Center Complex in Media, Pa., since the early 1990s.