Close

Raritan Borough is about 4,325 miles away from Italy but a common connection — a World War II hero named John Basilone — now ties the Somerset County town and a small Italian community even closer together. Basilone’s portrait hangs in the center of the Raritan Borough’s council’s chambers. A statue of Basilone stands proudly near the edge of town...

0
1179

Un eroe della seconda guerra mondiale, figlio di un cittadino di Colle Sannita emigrato nel 1903 nel New Jersey negli Stati Uniti, unirà il comune del Tammaro con la città di Raritan dove il figlio dell’immigrazione dei primi anni del ‘900 è nato. Il consiglio comunale di Colle Sannita ha approvato, infatti, la proposta digemellaggio tra i due terr...

0
1488

Veterans Day is a time to remember the courageous, yet unheralded men and women who have defended our country, often with the sacrifice of their lives. We take pride in the fact that America is the greatest country on earth, and the bastion of world democracy, but it would not be so, except for those who have answered the call to serve. Italian Ame...

0
1435

John Basilone was one of the most heroic and acclaimed Italian-Americans in the story of the United States. He was the only Marine to be awarded with the two highest honors of the U.S. Army: the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.

5967

There are still many Little Italys in the United States. Some of them are just a few blocks now, other are what's left of the urbanization that brought large roads in the middle of many American cities after the war, several times crashing an Italian community. Every one of them is a place where a big Italian heart has been, is and hopefully always...

1
7858

Sunday, September 24. 13:00 EDT - Raritan, New Jersey Please join us as we celebrate the heroism and valor of John Basilone. Come and thank a veteran, wear you finest red, white and blue and support our military. Parade route begins at the Raritan Train Station and ends at the John Basilone Statue. Rain or shine. If you would like to participate, p...

0
2546

The Grand Marshall for the 2015 Basilone Parade is Tony Lettieri. During World War II he served in the US Navy aboard a highly decorated destroyer the USS Nicholas. Tony Lettieri was born in Raritan in 1926. His family lived at 21 First Avenue. His parents, like many from Raritan in that era, had been born in Italy. They both came to the U.S. as te...

0
1610

Veteran's Day celebrationOur Veteran's Day celebration will take place on Wednesday. November 11th, lunch at 12 noon and we will show "Basilone - Marine Corps Legend & American Hero." The cost for the lunch is $5. Your check is your reservation. Reservations must be made by November 9th   St. Frances Xavier Cabrini CelebrationSt. Frances...

1131

John Basilone was born on November 4, 1916, in Buffalo, New York. Both sides of his family emigrated from Benevento, Italy. He was the sixth of 10 children, and his family moved from New York to Raritan, New Jersey, while John was still a child. Once he turned 18, he enlisted in the United States Army and served his time in the Philippines where he...

0
1955

Congratulations to NIAF member Diane Basilone Hawkins on the production of the documentary short film "Going Back—John Basilone," about her uncle, Marine Corps GySgt. John Basilone, who was a World War II recipient of both the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross.   The film will screen as part of the Second Annual Golden Egg Film...

0
3687