For the column “Abruzzesi in the world”, Maria Fosco, proud custodian of emigration from Chieti to the USA.
Among women of Abruzzo origin in the United States, certainly Maria Fosco has emerged for years as an emblematic figure of her Orsognese community in New York. The latter has always been among the proudest guardians of the great emigration from Chieti to the USA, which from the end of the 19th century, from Orsogna, brought thousands of her children to the great North American country, now more than double its current 3,660 inhabitants. In particular in the largest metropolis with “stars and stripes”, they are concentrated in the neighborhood Astoria, Queens, NY always proposing there the scheme of the “Little Abruzzo“, on a family and ethnic basis, which resulted in a form of defense and support among immigrants. Here from a young ageMaria Foscointerpreted its constitutive soul, with his parents and relatives, Filomena and Antonio, who emigrated from the village of Orsogna, at the end of the 1950s. Studies at Hunter College of the University of New York, graduating in History, in the mid-80s, thus specializing in the discipline of International Affairs. Already in 1986 he entered the “Italian American Institute“, for the administrative programs of his community. A very intense work of promoting Italian culture in America, which has grown exponentially in the United States, after decades of marginalization and dispersion of its historical, ethnic and linguistic heritage. Because of this President Giorgio Napolitano conferred on her the title of “Official of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic”, also with other awards, such as the one, in memory of the legendary Italian-American policeman, Joe Petrosino. In October 2017 the same Regional Council of Abruzzo, led by the then President Giuseppe Di Pangraziovisiting New York, for the traditional “Columbus Day“, he met the whole proud Orsognese community, led by the tireless Maria Fosco, with her “Orsogna MAS” Association, together with the new Orsogna Club, retracing its glorious history, with the many authoritative characters it has expressed, including with the late Giuseppe Angeli, elected Italian parliamentarian, for the constituency of South America, together with the others of Abruzzo origin, established themselves in all fields. In particular, the distinctive features of the professional guide of the are worthy of note Prof. Fosco and also the very nature of the associative bodies, which underline both the character of its own identity, very marked, and its objectives of study, research and preservation of the original history, facing the difficult test of the passage to successive generations, compared to that of the first emigrants. A crucial issue, also in view of next year, of the “Return tourism“, which will become a decisive proof of it. In this sense, the feeling that perhaps elsewhere they are preparing better for this appointment, compared to what is known by the Abruzzo Region and its Cram, a consultative body yes, but perhaps never so static, in its proposals. This is because the processes to be solicited are multiple and multi-directional, even with substantial resources from the Central State, which there is the risk of being used only for other Regions. In addition, you should activate “governance” more coordinated, among our various communities in the world, on complementary areas, always starting from the conservation of the precious cultural heritage of each one, also stimulating the Regional Museum of Emigration, of Introdacqua (AQ), named after the great poet Pascal D’Angelo. who did not find “fortune and glory” in New York, dying there on March 13, 1932.In this sense, it would be necessary to give a historical breath to this complex migration issue, evaluating all its aspects, as was done in the recent conference promoted at the the Chamber of Deputies, by the Hon. Fabio PortaItalian parliamentarian elected abroad, on: Diaspora, Italicity’, Citizenship and Development “A discussion on how Italy can relaunch itself in the world through our communities abroad and the contribution of the Italian global community, which lives inside and outside the borders of the country”. Valuable academic interventions from Abruzzo also took part in this interesting debate, with the economist Nicola Mattoscio, (also as President of the “Abruzzo in the World” Association) and of geographer Carmen Bizzarri, of the European University of Romeon two crucial questions, which hold together the history of migrations: A complex of synergistic actions in the “global village”, from the cultural, religious and tourist promotion policies, promoted starting from the municipality of Orsogna, to bring to life the same ritual of the TALAMI, or living biblical paintings, which parade through the village after the SS. Easter, to which all the Orsognesi communities in the world contribute. A country of tolerance, welcome and peace, in memory of SHOAH herself, who saved many Jews during the last world war.
