Two Anniversaries One Heart: Happy birthday USA. Unsung Italian heroes of the Midwest

In 2026, We the Italians celebrates “Two Anniversaries, One Heart” – the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 80th anniversary of the Italian Republic. This podcast is part of the “Happy Birthday USA: Unsung Italian Heroes” project, in which we share how, in every corner of the United States, an Italian has made a positive impact on their local community. This episode is about the Italian unsung heroes of the Midwest. Lillian Covillo, the Italian American visionary who helped build Colorado Ballet The Italian who brought Columbus Day in the United States A little lady, a strong will and Chicago’s Little Italy Dominick Formento and the Cherry mine disaster, a story of extraordinary heroism Francesco Vigo. How an Italian immigrant came to the aid of the American revolution Margaret Gisolo, the Italian American girl who put Indiana at the center of women's Baseball history How an Italian immigrant’s daughter changed the face of Iowa Rosalie Strada, the matriarch of Kansas City's Little Italy Lee Iacocca, the Italian American who helped keep Michigan rolling The sculptor of Detroit. Corrado Parducci and the Motor City's soul of stone The story of Mary Pallucca and her Italian spirit in Kansas Giacomo Beltrami, the Italian visionary still celebrated across Minnesota Before the Gateway Arch, an Italian story in St. Louis Father Antonio Ravalli, Montana’s Leonardo of the Rockies Sicily and Nebraska, the human bridge built by Grazia and Al Caniglia The silent heroism of Mary D'Angelo in early North Dakota How Mary Zone turned personal loss into a lifesaving Cleveland legacy Father Casto Marrapese, the man who gave Columbus its Italian festival Iron joints and an Italian heart. Luigi Carbonetti, the savior of South Dakota’s railroads The frontier builder. How the Italian Samuel Mazzuchelli changed Wisconsin Gianni Rizzi, the shepherd of the Italian Alps who shaped the Wyoming prairies