County Executive Suozzi, the Honorary Chairman of the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) Centennial Cities Recognition Program, speaks at the Centennial Anniversary Celebration Flag Raising Ceremony

New York, N.Y. -- Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi spoke at the Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) Centennial Anniversary Celebration Flag Raising Ceremony on June 22, 2005 at the Alexander Hamilton United States Custom House in New York.  The flag raising ceremony honored Italian immigrants in the United States. The County Executive is the Honorary Chairman of the OSIA’s Centennial Cities Recognition Program, which recognizes those lodges that have played an important role in furthering the mission of the Order Sons of Italy in America as they celebrate their 100th year. 

The OSIA, the oldest and largest national organization for men and women of Italian heritage in the United States officially marked its June 22, 2005 - the same date and place of its founding 100 years ago in New York City’s Little Italy.

The celebration began at the U.S. Custom House at Bowling Green and included a procession of active OSIA lodges and a centennial recommitment ceremony lead by Justice Frank J. Montemuro, of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and an OSIA past national president.

New York government leaders addressed the crowd, offering congratulations. Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi spoke on the steps of the U.S. Custom House. “I am proud to be part of this event and this day, which commemorates my ancestors and all the Italian-American immigrants who have come to the Unites States and thrived,” said County Executive Suozzi. 

OSIA was founded in 1905 by Vincenzo Sellaro, M.D. to unite Italians in America and assist them in work and education. One hundred years later, the organization counts 600,000 members and supporters and 700 chapters or lodges across the United States. Since its founding it has established more than 2,800 lodges in 43 states and the District of Columbia.

Since its founding, OSIA has donated more than $90 million to education, medical research and disaster relief. Among the OSIA supporters were members and officers from the Grand Lodges of Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

OSIA has more than 600,000 members and supporters and a network of more than 700 chapters coast to coast. OSIA works at the community, national and international levels to promote the heritage and culture of an estimated 26 million Italian Americans, the nation's fifth largest ethnic group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. See www.osia.org.