RESOLUTION
Whereas, The Republic of Italy is celebrating the 150th Anniversary of its unification, and
Whereas, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by Alderman Margaret Laurino of the 39th Ward; and
Whereas, the Republic of Italy is proudly commemorating this historic achievement in its history together with generations of Italians born in America; and
Whereas, The significance of the role of Italy's great patriots stands as a reminder of the forces of democracy at work within the Italian states a century and a half ago, especially the political and military contribution of Giuseppe Garibaldi, the "Father" of modern Italy, who brought "one out of many;" and
Whereas, The "Risorgimento" - the Resurgence - as it is known, marks a formidable moment in the political and social life of the Italian people; and
Whereas, This movement is responsible for the amalgamation of many small independent states into a single, unified Italian state in 1861; and
Whereas, The prophetic promise of a free, unified Italy from "the alps to the Adriatic" was a long dream of Italian patriots; and
Whereas, King Victor Emmanuel I, of the House of Savoy, became the 1st King of Italy; and
Whereas, Chicago has been richly shaped by the dreams and work of Italians who came to its storied promise for the chance of economic opportunities; and
Whereas, From physicist Enrico Fermi to merchant Dominick DeMatteo Italians have made Chicago a fertile home for achievement and success; and
Whereas, From 1850 to the present, Italians have nourished Chicago's cultural, social, religious and political life with remarkable effort and skill; and
Whereas, From St. Frances Xavier Cabrini to the City's beloved Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, sportscaster Harry Caray and Monsignor Ken Velo, the landscape of Chicago is more civil, colorful and refined by the Italian way; and
Whereas, Chicago has been enriched by the Italians who came from small farms (contadini) and large urban communities (urbanf), motivated by love of family and love of freedom; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, That we the Mayor and Members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this eighth day of June, 2011, do hereby honor the unification of the Italian State and its 150th Anniversary; and
Be It Further Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution be sent to the Italian Consul General here in Chicago in recognition of this significant moment in the life of the Italian State with the best wishes and respect of the City of Chicago.