The Italian American Veterans Museum hopes all our supporters and their families are staying healthy and safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Since our activities are limited for the time being, we’re offering Stay-at-Home Movie Night to keep you entertained while you’re sheltering in place. Reviews will be written by museum board members and all...

On January 3, Lorenzo Fiorentino and Richard Wojewnik picked up a larger quantity of books and records from the Italian American Veterans Museum and placed them on the shelves of the recently opened Chicagoland Combined Veterans Museum, Library and Honor Wall. Fiorentino and Wojewnik are members of the American Legion Post 335 and Veterans of Forei...

Retired Army Col. Renato Bacci has been elected by the board of directors to helm the Italian American Veterans Museum. Joining him as officers are retired Navy Commander Joseph Troiani as first vice president, retired Army Maj. Lorenzo Fiorentino as second vice president, Army veteran Mark DiSanto third vice president, Steve Corbo as treasurer, Eu...

It was all hands on deck when board member Joe Troiani presented an acclaimed PBS documentary at the museum on Dec. 7. “Heroes on Deck: World War II on Lake Michigan” tells the untold tale of a program that trained more than 15,000 carrier pilots off the shores of the Windy City during World War II. The training took place on a pair of coal-fired,...

Museum President Paul Basile couldn’t believe his ears. National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame Executive Board Member and Legal Counsel Enrico Mirabelli was calling to inform him that the sports hall would be donating $5,000 to the museum! The remarkably generous bequest was given in memory of founder George Randazzo’s military service. Paul...

Celebrating 42 years of Italian Americans in Sports, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame hosted its annual star-studded Induction and Awards Gala on Saturday, November 9th at the Westin O’Hare. With 650 guests on hand, the NIASHF welcomed the all-star class of 2019, which included Super Bowl Champion, Glenn Carano; National Hot Rod As...

Just off Chicago’s shoreline during World War II, the U.S. Navy trained more than 15,000 carrier pilots on a pair of coal-fired, side-wheel passenger steamers transformed into “flattops.” Not every pilot landed successfully on the pitching decks of the USS Wolverine and USS Sable, and many aircraft plunged into the watery depths. Today, more than 1...

A major piece of local military history is now on display at the Italian American Veterans Museum in Stone Park thanks to the dedication and generosity of the Far South Side Italian-American community. A massive bronze plaque honoring scores of World War II veterans was donated to the museum at a ceremony in late October at Carlo Lorenzetti’s in Ch...

Dozens gathered at a Chicago Heights restaurant for fellowship and to honor family members and former neighbors who served in the U.S. military during World War II. They shared memories Tuesday night of living in Chicago’s Roseland and Pullman neighborhoods and celebrated the discovery of a relic that honored men who fought for freedom after fascis...

It’s that time of the year when we pay tribute to all veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who have served our country through the centuries. Since Nov. 11, 1954, Veterans Day has been observed as a national holiday in America. Originally dubbed Armistice Day, it marks the anniversary of the end of World War I, which formally came to a close at the 11...