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The US Celebrates the 150th Anniversary of Italy's Unification

The celebrations for the 150th Anniversary of Italy's unification had their US debut on October 3rd and 4th as special events were held at the presence of top delegations from both sides of the Atlantic to reaffirm the strong links between the two countries.

The opening event was a lecture (Lectio Magistralis) given by Giuliano Amato, Chairman of the Guarantors' Committee for the 150 th Anniversary of Italy's Unification (and former Italian Prime Minister from 1992 to 1993 and again from 2000 to 2001) at the Georgetown University on Monday 3 October.

In his speech, Amato underlined how "the struggle for the unification of Italy was essential to reduce the pre-unification divisions between the regions". "The unification of Italy," Amato said, "was a historic milestone in the modernization of the country. We could have built a better Italy, but this was undoubtedly the only possible Italy." In conclusion, Professor Amato wanted to emphasize the role of young people "as holding the future safe in their hands, but only if they are offered an ideal outlook."

On October 4th, invaluable original letters written by Giuseppe Garibaldi were donated in the presence of the Hero of the Two Worlds' great granddaughter Annita Garibaldi Jallet, to the National Museum of American History, where visitors can admire a selected collection of historical documents of the Italian Risorgimento on display until October 30th.

On the same day the "Regions and Narratives of Italy" exhibition curated by Alessandro Nicosia was inaugurated at the Italian Embassy in Washington. Promoted by the Prime Minister's Office, it offers regional governments and other organizations an opportunity to present their historic, cultural, technological and industrial assets, and the identities they have developed over the last one hundred and fifty years, with a special focus on the last forty.

The US celebrations for Italy's 150th Anniversary will culminate on October 29th with a Gala at the the Washington Hilton which will see the presence of over 4,000 invitees among whom Nancy Pelosi, Leon Panetta, Janet Napoletano plus over 30 US Congressmen of Italian descent, the Chairman of the Confederation of Italian Industry Emma Marcegaglia, major Italian entrepreneurs and top managers. US President Barack Obama and the President of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano are expected to attend.

For further information contact:

Patrizia Marin, FBC Media, +39-348-25-66-212; pmarin@fbcmedia.com.

SOURCE FBC Media