The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-07

kionnl commander or the Athlihn' American World War Veterans oi the 0, 8, hes undertaken Q program of ActlViteis to increase the nun. Dor of units in the organization Connecticut has taken the lead in membership and Is expected to Yes main the central headquarters for the nationwide campaign, Close alliance with the American Legion Disabled American Veterans, Veter- ans Of Foreign Wars and other eX- serVicemens organization has been piedRed to promote the welfare of America, Some 000,000 veterans are eligible for membership,
 The future possibilities Of the Itailan-Amcrican Veterans Is pic- tired in the following address giv- on att he national convention in New Britain last Saturday by Mir, DoPaStino. Copies have been set 10 All sections of the United States, Jt reads as follows
 HIn assuming this ofiice of re- , sponslbility l am aware that from this day to the end Of my term, l am speaking for and must assume the moral leadership Of more than eo0,000 American Veterans Of Ital- ian blYth or pArentage who are reS- adents Of this great republic, about 100000 who now live In Italy and other countries throughout the world.
 Only c small percentage Of the aforementioned number are now at' Aliated with this glorious and noble organization and predict that 0S soon as the real need and purposes for which we are banded becomes appreciated throughout the world, enc ajority of veterans Of our eS. traction, who were among the first to shed heroic blood on the feldS of glory, will join us In q cause which will prove our selflsh interests la our own welfare and the welfare Of our Gold Star Mothers our widows and dependentS,- bc merely ineident- Al, when compared with the service that has been and can he rendered in behalf of America,
 Our own history, particularly demonstrates, that even small nucleouS of selfish minded or noble minded individuals can al- ter our course, either to the disaS. trous detriment or to the universal qualification Of the general eit- tEenry.
 In . country such AS ours made up of large nueleous Of citizens Of various interests, ereedS and races, which will require centuries to mould it Into a race, there Is need for our inStltutlon aS there iS need for vari. ous religious, philosophical and DO. liticN ereedS,
 Hardly A week has passed since our inception that some forgotten man has not been found among veterans Of our extraction, and theEe S not one of our posts who has not brought back to eternal TO. yiembrAnee the memory Of some one or Roge heroic comrade, whose glo- rlolm sacrifices for the Stars ana Stripes would otherwise have been permanently forgotten,
 The most significant feature ln Che formation Of the Italian Amer. lean World War Veterans of the u 6! A, b the fact that it was brought about by World War Veterans, who already had been and are still active and prominent in other major Vet- eranS organizations, and have come to the conclusion that while such great institutions AS the American H.ADtAA UAtAHaNAa at VNApAlAA WApa Disabled American Veterans and others, have been dominant factors An promoting and upholding tho in. tAfests of veterans, Gold Star Moth- CTS, and widows and dependents ot Veterans,--there was an urgent neeu for our organization In that major- fly Of the 760,000 American veterans Of our extraction know little more 0t the English language now than when they were induoted in the war AeTvice. And it iS Q known fact that not more than 26 per cent of the American World War Veterans of our extraction belong to any veter- ans organization,
 It never was and never will be the dominant purpose of thiS organiZa. ton to diminish or obstruet the won- derful work Of any major organiSa- . ton, though incidentally some diS- criminatory conditions have been corrected and we are ever ready Lo correct others should they be re- Vealed.
 We are rather dedicated to bring. Ing Into the fold Of veterans activ. lties, aS many aS possible who have not as yet been able to partake of the pleasure ot doing something for themselves, for their comrades and their dependents, and to share in the various activities common la our everyday American life,
 We are dedicated to program af destroying that feeling Of inferior ity complex among many veterans of Italian birth or extraction on &C., count Of their shyness to mix With comrades who are more fortunate n their social standing and ability 10 master the English language, We arc Insulting In this class of worthy Americans the proper feeling that, excepting for handicaps beyond their control, they arc equal to any class of American citizens.
 And If we can accomplish our task in the manner already demonstrate ed, in cooperation with or assistance from all other veterans groups, we can assure ourselves of a perma- nent opportunity to be Of service 70 our American government, to the American people and to mankind.
 !, Service In Public Emergency It will no doubt be of interest 10 many that our interests and activ- aties are not merely confined in be- half of our veterans but to the well fare of all citizens.
 No better proof can be had than the active interest shown and CO., operation given by us in the relief work of the American Red Cross ~a,.v.{,1o flaa Hannarfiniff Rivar flnod