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Pisciotta is a
small village in Southern Italy whose origins go back to
ancient times when the Greeks founded new colonies, infact
this area is also known as the “Magna Graecia” and the the
nearby village of Ascea(Elea)was the hometown of great
philosophers such as Parmenide and Zenone (Eleatic School).
Pisciotta has
always been a cultural, religious and intellectual center
where a lot of enlightened men were born, but on the other
hand it suffered (especially during the first decades of the
past century) of economic lacks and therefore it had a lot
of emigrants who were compelled to leave the beauty of its
coast, the warmth of its sun, its transparent sky and sea,
the traditions with which they had grown up, to go abroad to
seek fortune. A lot of Pisciottani went to Northern Europe,
but a great deal reached the “New World” where, they were
told, they could find a job, make some money to buy a house,
have their children study and live an honest life and,
maybe, go back to their home town to enjoy those beauties
they had always in mind and in their hearts and which gave
them the strength to face all the difficulties they
encountered on their way through a completely new life.
A lot of these
emigrants had the opportunity to return to Pisciotta either
to remain there or just to visit it, but plenty of them
didn’t manage to go back to see again their home town which
they thought of every day, in each moment of their new life,
and which they always talked about to their children who
were born in the “New World” and who knew about Pisciotta
through the words, the cooking, the religious traditions of
their parents (or grandparents). But Pisciotta has never
forgotten its children and they have never forgotten
Pisciotta, as well as Italy has always been alive in its
emigrants and their lives! This is the starting point of
many associations born in the States with the aim of never
forgetting their roots, their origins, their parents...One I
would like to mention is the Italian American Community
Center in Albany, NY, which, every year, gives a special
award to an Italian-American, and in the 2002 it was given
to
GEORGE INFANTE
The
Honorable George L.Infante was presented the
“Italian-American of the Year Award” for the Year 2002, at
the Italian American Community Center in Albany, New York,
USA. This award is presented to someone who continually
applies our cherished Italian values of family, fellowship,
and good will to betterment of our nation and our community.
George Infante
was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of immigrants,
Aniello Infante
of
Pisciotta,
Italy, and
Rose Superti
of
Barletta,Italy.
He has a BS Degree
in Public Administration and Criminal Justice. His life of
public service started over 50 years ago with his
appointment to the State Police Bureau of Criminal
Investigation and through the years rose ranks of Corporal,
Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Superintendent. In 1979 he
was elected Albany County Sheriff and served in that
capacity for ten years. Since 1994 he has served as Albany
County Legislator.
George
has shown us what it means to be an Italian. He hasbeen a
member of countless community, fraternal and charitable
organizations.
George Infante
is without a doubt a hero and a role model for
Italian-Americans.
Thank you George
!
Thank you for
being part of our lives ! Thank you also from all those
emigrants who are not among us anymore ! Thank you from
Pisciotta !
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