October 8, 2007

DEAR SONS OF ITALY MEMBER,

Happy Columbus Day.

Constantino Brumidi, “the Artist of the United States
United States Capitol,” in Washington, D.C., is Italy’s
greatest gift to America.

Constantino Brumidi spent 25 years of his life making
beautiful the most important building in the U.S. -- the
Capitol, including its magnificent Rotunda with his
beautiful “Apotheosis of Washington” in the dome;

Born in Italy in 1805, of Italian and Greek parents, he
brought to the U.S. the finest art traditions and styles of
Italy (fresco painting in the styles of the High Italian
Renaissance and the Baroque);
Brumidi painted many rooms and spaces in the Capitol,
including the magnificent President's Room, the Office
of the Vice President, the Senate Reception Room, the
Brumidi Corridors and the "Frieze of American History,"
also in the Rotunda.

Having come to the U.S., in 1852, seeking liberty, he truly
loved America and considered painting in the Capitol his
greatest joy and highest honor. Brumidi gratefully received
his citizenship, in 1857. He is famous for saying,
" My one ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live
long enough to make beautiful the Capitol of the one
country on earth in which there is liberty."
He personifies the immigrant dream of a productive life
and a better future in the U.S.

Brumidi was also a well recognized church artist,
having painted in major Catholic churches in New York
City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D. C.

(For more information on Brumidi, go to the Architect of the
Capitol website at www.aoc.gov hit Capitol Complex, then
Art, then, The Apotheosis of Washington,
The Frieze of American History and
The Brumidi Corridors).

The Constantino Brumidi Society was formed in February
2000 to promote the memory of Brumidi, promote an
appreciation of his works of art, both secular and religious,
and insure that he is properly recognized, particularly by
the Congress of the United States.

Brumidi has been recognized by Congress, as recently as
2005, when on the 200th anniversary of his birth, a
memorial service took place, in the Rotunda of the Capitol,
under his great “Apotheosis of Washington.”

The Constantino Brumidi Society worked in concert with
the following major national organizations to bring about
this important ceremony:

The Order of the Sons of Italy in America (OSIA),
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive
Association (AHEPA),
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and
The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian
American Organizations.

(It should be noted that The Constantino Brumidi
Society is not a membership organization and does
not solicit funds from the public).

Now, there is a bill in Congress, H.R 1609, to award
Brumidi, posthumously, America’s greatest civilian
honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.

We are again working with the above organizations to
accomplish this. But, this will not be an easy task
and we will need the direct support from many of the
members of the above organizations.

Watch for our next message to find out how you can
help make this important bill law.

Finally, we hope that the Congress of the United States
will eventually name the, presently under construction,
Capitol Visitor Center after Brumidi.

When it opens, next year, the more than four million
visitors a year to the Capitol will be introduced to the
most important building in the United States through
this new building.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it was named after
Constantino Brumidi, the person who made
the Capitol beautiful and who was
Italy’s greatest gift to America?

Thank you for your kind attention.

Sincerely,

Joseph N. Grano, Chair
The Constantino Brumidi Society_Washington, D.C._joegrano@netzero.com
202.364.2526




October 20, 2007

DEAR OSIA MEMBER,
We have great news to report. H.R. 1609, the bill to
award Constantino Brumidi, posthumously, a
Congressional Gold Medal, now has 155 cosponsors.
(This is the same award that the Dalai Lama received,
last week).Thanks to the inspired leadership of Representative
Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ), co-chair of the Italian
American Delegation to Congress and sponsor
of the bill and four other representatives, we went
from 39 cosponsors on July 20 to 155.
Mr. Pascrell has single-handedly garnered more than 50
cosponsors on the House floor.

Also working on this joint effort were other
original cosponsors, including, Reps. Gus
M. Bilirakis (FL), Carolyn B. Maloney (NY)
(co-chairs of the Hellenic Caucus), John L. Mica
(FL) and Zackary T. Space (OH).
In addition to these five representatives, we had
the active support of The American Hellenic Educational
Progressive Association (AHEPA), the
National Italian American Foundation (NIAF).

Team Brumidi has two new members --
the Order Sons of Italy in American (OSIA) and
the Lido Civic Club of Washington, D.C. Lido and
OSIA will be writing and phoning representatives,
asking that they become cosponsors. We are delighted
and gratified that the oldest and largest Italian American
membership organization is fully and actively
behind this effort.
The senate version of this bill S. 254 was passed
on May 23, with all 100 senators as cosponsors,
thanks to the magnificent efforts of Sen. Michael
B. Enzi (WY), the bill’s original sponsor.
However, our work is far from complete. In order
to be voted on in the House, this bill is required
to have two-thirds of all representatives as
cosponsors (nearly 300). Please take this
opportunity, while Congress is in session to
call or e-mail your representative and
ask that they become a cosponsor.
To check if your representative is a cosponsor
go to the Library of Congress website
THOMAS, www.thomas.loc.gov, type in Brumidi,
hit search, click on H.R.1609, then click
on Bill Summary& Status, then click on
Cosponsors, after which, you will find
the list of cosponsors in alphabetical order.
If you don’t see your representative listed,
then, you may want to e-mail your
representative today and ask him/her to
cosponsor H.R. 1609, A bill to award
posthumously a Congressional Gold
Medal to Constantino Brumidi.

The easiest way to do this is to go to
www.house.gov where you will be
instructed how to do this.
It is quite simple.
As an alternative,
you may call the Capitol switchboard
at (202) 224-3121 to reach your
representative’s office.

As few as 12 letters or calls to a
representative can have a major impact.
In your letter, please ask your representative
to also give consideration to naming the
Capitol Visitor Center, now under construction,
after Brumidi.
Please remember, you are asking your representative
to “cosponsor H.R. 1609.” Use these words in
your letter or phone call.

TALKING POINTS FOR YOUR LETTER OR CALL

1. Constantino Brumidi spent 25 years of his life making
beautiful the most important building in the U.S., the
Capitol, including its magnificent Rotunda with the
beautiful “Apotheosis of Washington” in the dome;
2. Born in Italy in 1805, of Greek and Italian parents, he
brought to the U.S. the finest art traditions and styles of
Italy (fresco painting in the styles of the High Italian
Renaissance and the Baroque);
3. Having come to the U.S., in 1852, seeking liberty, he truly
loved America and considered painting in the Capitol his
greatest joy and highest honor. Brumidi is famous for saying,
" My one ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live
long enough to make beautiful the Capitol of the one country
on earth in which there is liberty."
He personifies the immigrant dream of a productive life
and a better future in the U.S.
Here is a sample letter:
Dear Representative _________,
     Please cosponsor H.R. 1609, a bill to give a Congressional Gold Medal, posthumously, to Constantino Brumidi, the “Artist of the U.S. Capitol.”
     As you know, Brumidi, an immigrant from Italy, who became a U.S. citizen, spent the last 25 years of his life painting masterpieces of art in the Capitol, including the “Apotheosis of Washington” and the Frieze of American History, both in the Rotunda, and seen by more than 4 million visitors to the Capitol, each year.
     Brumidi, as an immigrant, was inspired by his love of America. With this love, plus talent and hard work he made a success of his life in America, as well as making an outstanding contribution to the United States. He is, therefore, a role model for all immigrants and most deserving of our nation’s highest honor.
     Respectfully yours,
Your name
Your slow mail address

For more information on Brumidi, go to the Architect of the
Capitol website at www.aoc.gov hit Capitol Complex, then
Art, then The Apotheosis of Washington, The Frieze
of American History and The Brumidi Corridors).
Please consider forwarding this message to family members,
friends, colleagues and ethnic and cultural organizations you
belong to.
Many thanks to you for writing your letters and making your
phone calls.

Sincerely yours,
Joseph N. Grano, Chair
The Constantino Brumidi Society
Washington, D.C.
joegrano@netzero.com
202.364.2526