SENATE JOINT MEMORIAL 64

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Joseph J. Carraro

A JOINT MEMORIAL

DECLARING MARCH 10, 2005 TO BE "ITALIAN AMERICAN DAY" AT THE LEGISLATURE IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF ITALIANS AND ITALIAN AMERICANS TO THE COUNTRY AND TO NEW MEXICO.

     WHEREAS, Italians, like Amerigo Vespucci and Christopher Columbus, were some of the first explorers to discover the American continents and to illustrate the geography; and

     WHEREAS, Italians and Italian Americans have made great

contributions to American society economically, culturally and politically; and

     WHEREAS, Italian Americans have won prestigious prizes, such as the Nobel prize, the Pritzker award for architecture and the Fields medal for mathematics; and

     WHEREAS, Italians and Italian Americans invented pianos, violins, calendars, radios, telescopes, compasses, microscopes, thermometers, eyeglasses, steam engines, typewriters and batteries; and

     WHEREAS, a great many Americans have enjoyed the entertainment provided by Italian Americans, such as hall of fame baseball player Joe DiMaggio, singer and songwriter Frank Sinatra, world-renowned composer Henry Mancini and Oscar-winning actor Robert DeNiro; and

     WHEREAS, great Italian American political figures, such as Fiorella La Guardia, who was both mayor of, then congressman from, New York City; Anthony Celebrezze who, in the Kennedy administration, was the first Italian American cabinet member; and Antonin Scalia who, in 1982, became the first Italian American supreme court justice, have enriched the political process and brought national pride to our country; and

     WHEREAS, Senator Pete Domenici is not only the longest- serving Italian American senator ever to serve in the United States senate, but he is also the longest-serving New Mexico senator; and

     WHEREAS, in New Mexico, during the early part of the period of Italian immigration to the United States, many Italian immigrants worked in the mining industry and were instrumental in its development and growth; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico's history and diversity have been greatly enriched by the participation of its Italian American citizens; and

     WHEREAS, there have been and continue to be outstanding contributions to the politics, culture and economy of New Mexico from its Italian American population;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that March 10, 2005 be designated as "Italian American Day" at the legislature in recognition of the contributions of Italian Americans, including our own United States Senator Pete Domenici, to the greatness of our state; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that an appropriate program of activities be scheduled by the legislature for that date.

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