A call for unity and action!  That’s the message of Keynote Speaker Virginia Gardner, President of the Italian American Alliance – National, at the Conference of Italian American Organizations in Connecticut, hosted by the Italian-American Defense League. 

Gardner began her speech by jokingly pointing out how “Anglo” her last name by marriage is, but then her speech took on a serious tone, “If you take nothing else from tonight’s dinner, please take the word UNITY.  Our unity is vital to our survival.  Every group, committee, club, here tonight, must pledge to work together.  We will never be silent or invisible again. UNITY.”