A prestigious institutional event took place in New Jersey, where the Cavalieri of OMRI New Jersey Chapter hosted an exclusive luncheon to honor General Alfonso Manzo, Military Advisor to the Permanent Italian Mission to the United Nations, and Colonel Luca Vitali of the Italian Army.
The gathering brought together New Jersey law enforcement officials, business leaders, institutional representatives, and members of the Italian-American community, reaffirming the strong ties between Italy and the United States and the significance of transatlantic relations.
Giulio Picolli, President of the Association, opened the event by stating:
“Today, we celebrate two individuals whose service fills us with great pride and admiration.”
During his remarks, General Manzo emphasized the importance of Italy’s presence in international institutions and expressed gratitude for the warm reception from the community:
“It is a great honor to be welcomed by such a distinguished audience and to reinforce our shared commitment to promoting Italian pride worldwide.”
Silvana Mangione, Deputy Secretary General of the General Council of Italians Abroad (CGIE) for English-speaking non-European countries, also addressed the audience, extending greetings on behalf of the CGIE, which is chaired by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani. She highlighted the strategic role of the armed forces:
“Our armed forces safeguard global peace and protect the most vulnerable in war-torn and disease-stricken regions.”
She also shed light on a lesser-known yet crucial mission of the Carabinieri:
“Beyond law enforcement, the Carabinieri have two key responsibilities that many are unaware of—recovering and returning stolen artwork to Italy and protecting biodiversity.”
Distinguished Guests
The luncheon was attended by numerous esteemed guests, including:
- Cav. Ralph Contini, Former President of UNICO
- Cav. Dino Clemente & Mrs. Anna Clemente
- Cav. Thomas Bellavia & Mrs. Teresa Bellavia
- Prof. Mildred Mihlon, President, Felician University
- Cav. Tony Brusco
- Cav. Settimo Guttilla, E&S Foods
- New Jersey State Senator Joe Pennacchio
- Joe Guttilla, Jerry Guttilla & Sandro Guttilla
- Vincent Trovino, Joe Forgione, Frank Sclafani
- Cav. Alessandro Sità, CEO, Sita Foods
- Mr. Antonio Gianfrancesco & Mrs. Rosina Gianfrancesco
- Mr. Felice Zummo & Mrs. Rosalinda Zummo
- Mr. Francesco Bernando & Mrs. Rosella Bernando
- Mr. Matteo Vandoni, CEO, Amerifilm Converters
- Mr. Joe Berardo, CEO, CHT Group Investment
- Mr. Gino Lia & Mrs. Gina Lia, President, Ieri Oggi Domani
- Mr. Tony Condemi, Condemi Motor Company
- Dr. Davide Ippolito, CEO, ilNewyorkese
- Cav. Silvana Mangione, Deputy Secretary General, CGIE
- Mrs. Anna Malafronte, NIAF
- Sheriff Frank Schillari, Hudson County
- Mr. Riccardo Picolli, CEO, INFOCOP
- Chief John Russo (Rutherford PD), Chief Giacomo Sacca (Elizabeth PD), Chief Andrew Caggiano (Montville PD), Chief Louis Bordi (Voorhees PD), Chief Edward Kerr (Spring Lake PD)
- Mitch Sklar, Executive Director, NJSACOP
- James Rizzo, Board President, BCB Bank
- Mr. James Sheehan, Program Manager, UASI
- Col. Ray Guidetti, Former Chief, NJ State Police
- Chris Musto, Director of Security
Strengthening Italian-American Ties
The event served as a significant opportunity to reinforce dialogue between the Italian community in the United States and Italian institutions, further demonstrating how Italian identity and culture remain deeply embedded in the social and economic fabric of America.
