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Lodge Member Accolades
This page is under construction. It is designed to salute our Lodge members and let other members know about projects, awards, and other activities that our members are involved in. These activities could be those related to the Lodge and its business as well as activities and merits in your workplace or community. If you have information you want to post please send the information to: clentin@verizon.net
OSIA Member To Get Congressional Gold Medal
Three Cheers to Sen. Enzi and Rep. Bill Pascrell Fore their support
Constantino Brumidi, “Artist of the U.S. Capitol” will receive the
Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously.
On June 10, 2008, the House of Representatives took up the Senate version of the
Constantino Brumidi Congressional Gold Medal Bill (S. 254). Floor Manager Rep.
Gary Ackerman (D-NY) moved to suspend the rules. There was no objection and the
bill passed. The bill will now be sent to President Bush who is expected to sign
it.
Brumidi was born in 1805 in Rome of a Greek father and an Italian mother. His
artwork adorns n umerous rooms in the Capitol, including several committee rooms,
the Office of the Vice President, and the President’s Room. Brumidi’s crowning
achievement is “The Apotheosis of Washington” in the eye of the Capitol dome. He
died in Washington in 1880.
Primarily to be recognized and thanked for this great accomplishment are the
sponsors of the bills in the Senate and House, Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-WY)
and Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), respectively. Because of the two-thirds
cosponsorship requirement, Gold Medal bills are not passed without the total
support, commitment and personal involvement of the sponsors. (S. 254 had 99
cosponsors and the House bill, H.R. 1609, had 307 cosponsors). Simply put,
without the effort of these two great legislators, Brumidi would not be
receiving this honor. Three cheers for Rep. Pascrell and Senator Enzi!!!
If you would like to express your thanks to these two distinguished gentlemen, I < BR>suggest you send an e-mail message to Senator Enzi by way of his staffer, John
Hallmark, who worked on the Senate bill, at john_hallmark@enzi.senate.gov, and
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., by way of his staffer, Stephanie Krenrich, who also
worked on the House bill, at stephanie.krenrich@mail.house.gov. Please, identify
your city and state in your letter.
Other Members of Congress, to be thanked for their contributions to finding
cosponsors are Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Representatives Carolyn Maloney
(D-NY), John Mica (R-FL), Zack Space (D-OH), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Gary Ackerman
(D-NY), John Sarbanes (D-MD), Michael Burgess (R-TX) and Rick Renzi (R-AZ).
Also, garnering support for the House bill (H.R. 1609) were the National Italian
American Foundation (NIAF), the American Hellenic Educational Progressive
Association (AHEPA) and The Constantino Brumidi Society. In addition, the
efforts of the Order Sons of Italy in America, (OSIA), The Lido Civic Club of
Washington, D.C. and the OSIA Constantino Brumidi Lodge of Deer Park, New York
are to be recognized.
Finally, last, but not least, to be thanked, are all the Friends of Constantino
Brumidi who contacted their members of Congress on behalf of this legislation.
After the bill becomes law, a unique gold medal bearing Brumidi’s image will be
designed and cast by the U.S. Mint. Hopefully, next year, an official ceremony
by the Congress bestowing the Gold Medal on Brumidi, posthumously, will take
place in the Rotunda, beneath Brumidi’s “Apotheosis of Washington.” Afterward,
the Medal will be permanently displayed in the new Capitol Visitor Center as
part of an exhibit honoring Brumidi. Bronze copies of the medal will be offered
for sale to the public.
To give some perspective on the prestige of this medal: The Congressional Gold
Medal is the highest civilian award our Federal government gives. Congress has
passed bills awarding the Congressional Gold Medal only 135 times since the
first Congress in 1789 – 219 years ago. (Contrast this to the other well-known
award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented 300 times since 1946). The
first Congressional Gold Medals were awarded to military leaders and war heroes.
(The first was awarded to George Washington in 1776 by the Continental
Congress). Now, the Medal is awarded for outstanding service in all fields of
endeavor and is also given to foreigners. For example, John Paul II was awarded
it in 2000 and the Dalai Lama in 2006.
Persons of Greek descent who have received the Medal are Ecumenical Patriarch
Bartholomew in 1997.
Persons from Italy or of Italian descent who have received it are Umberto Nobile
(pilot of airship over the North Pole) in 1928, Ben Abruzzo (first transatlantic
balloon flight) in 1979 and Frank Sinatra in 1997.
Constantino Brumidi was born July 26, 1805 in Rome, Italy, to Stauros Brumidi,
an immigrant from Greece, and Anna Bianchini Brumidi, of Rome. He trained as an
artist and painted in Rome, including at the Vatican. He was so respected as an
artist that he was commissioned to do a portrait of Pope Pius, IX. Arriving on
September 18, 1852 in New York City as a political refugee, he became an
American citizen in 1857. Brumidi began painting in the U.S. Capitol on
February 19, 1855, and spent more than 25 years of his life painting, decorating
and beautifying the corridors and committee rooms, and most notably the Rotunda
of the Capitol. He created many magnificent paintings and decorations depicting
the history, inventions, values and ideals of the United States, thus enhancing
the dignity and beauty of the Capitol and inspiring tens of millions of
visitors. In just eleven months of 1865, he painted his masterpiece, The
Apotheosis of Washington, in the canopy over the eye of the Capitol Dome. In
1871, Brumidi created the first tribute to an African American in the Capitol
when he placed the figure of Crispus Attucks at the center of his painting of
the Revolutionary War-era Boston Massacre. He died February 19, 1880, exactly
25 years to the day that he first began work in the Capitol. Brumidi is buried
in Glenwood Cemetery, Washington, D.C. In 1950, the United States Congress
authorized and funded a marker on Brumidi’s grave there, in honor of his
commitment to the decoration of the Capitol.
During the American phase of his life, Brumidi continued to paint Catholic
churches as he had in Rome. His work may be seen in St. Aloysius Church,
Washington DC, as well as churches in Baltimore and Philadelphia, and, most
especially in St. Stephen’s Catholic Church in New York City (now called Our
Lady of the Scapular and St. Stephen’s).
Regards,
Joseph N. Grano, Chair
The Consta ntino Brumidi Society
Washington, D.C.
OSIA Scholarship awarded to Vincent Dangelo
Vincent Danagelo, a member of our lodge, won the OSIA state scholarship for 2008-2009 school year for high school freshmen. He will be attending Greensburg Central Catholic High School. The state lodge awarded him a $ 500 scholarship.
OSIA member Anthony Bompiani to run for PA Senate Seat
Good Luck Tony
Thank you for visiting the website of Dr. Anthony L. Bompiani, D.C., candidate for state senator of the 39th District of Pennsylvania. To learn more about Dr. Bompiani and his campaign, please navigate the website by using the buttons below. For more information, please email us at Info@bompianiforsenate.com, or call (724) 837-3900. You may also visit the following links for more news:
www.bompianiforsenate.blogspot.com
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