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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.

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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By Niccolò Graffio   Two of the many fond memories I had of my childhood in Corona, Queens: 1) Growing up in a predominantly (Southern) Italian area 2) Playing "War" in the streets with my neighborhood friends. My paisani need no explanation for the former.   The sights, sounds and the smells (especially around dinner time) of the old...

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