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Order of Sons of Italy in America seeks to preserve Italian history and culture

Promoting Italian heritage and customs

The Tacoma Chapter of OSIA meets at the AMVETs Hall in Tacoma. State president Tony Anderson (left) hopes to keep Italian culture alive. Courtesy of glnw.org

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The United States of America has often been called a nation of immigrants and for good reason. The ancestors of the majority of U.S. citizens were born somewhere else. Down through the centuries, immigrants arriving in this country have faced language and cultural barriers that have resulted in suspicion and discrimination. Often, the first immigrants from a particular nation or region would form organizations to help later arrivals adjust to this new world. One such association was the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, or the OSIA. This group, which was founded in 1905, is the oldest and largest society of American citizens of Italian descent in the United States.

Today, OSIA has national offices in Washington, D.C. and chapters in 21 states across the nation. Tacoma's Order of the Sons of Italy in America, Lodge #1175, has the distinction of being the oldest OSIA Lodge in the state of Washington.

According to the Washington OSIA website (www.glnw.org), while the organization originally existed for "the primary purpose of offering assistance to Italian immigrants in their adjustment to a new life in the United States of America," over time, that original focus has changed. Today, the "primary goal (of the OSIA) is to perpetuate the Italian culture and heritage."

The membership, which consists largely of descendants of the Italian immigrants who originally founded the organization, is offered "the opportunity to promote, preserve and cherish a lasting appreciation of Italian heritage, culture and customs." This is accomplished by providing opportunities for members to become involved "in community, charitable, educational, cultural and social activities," including discussion groups, Italian language classes and Italian folk dances.

Another aim of the OSIA is to help the descendants of Italian immigrants understand their shared history and make them "aware of the ‘Island of Tears' as Ellis Island was called, to understand the fear experienced as families were separated for life and some members sent back to Italy."

The Tacoma chapter of the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, Lodge #1175, meets the first Wednesday of every month, except during the months of July and August, in the AMVET Post 1 Hall located at 5717 S. Tyler St., Tacoma. The public is invited to drop by and see what the OSIA is all about.

For more information about the Tacoma chapter of the Order of the Sons of Italy in America, visit www.glnw.org or contact the Tacoma chapter president, Nick Santelli, at 253.565.1652.

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