Presidents Message winter-Spring 2017
As you read this edition of our magazine we are in the spring season with a number of events unfolding. With the winter months behind us our organization just held another very successful Gala Benefit Dinner Dance. I want to truly congratulate Chief John Lazzara, Mrs. Carol Grossi, Mrs. Nadine Meola, Mayor Joseph Pannullo and Mr. Bill Spadea and thank Gala Chairman Sepe and Journal Chairman Nardone for a fantastic job. Once again our organization’s signature event had a waiting list of people wishing to join us that evening.
Two important events that each spring brings are National Police Week and the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey Pasta Night for Special Olympics. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Each May we come together as a law enforcement community in Washington, DC as a family to remember our fallen. Police officers from all over the nation and from foreign countries join us. Each year we are honored to have a delegation of police officers from Aruba make a trip to pay their respects and extend their friendship and we look forward to spending time with them. I strongly urge you to make the trip to Washington to witness the awesome sight of thousands of law enforcement officers in the National Law Enforcement Officers candlelight Vigil on May 13th. This a fantastic way to support the memory and families of those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to stand strongly together as a profession.
In April the Italian American Police Society of New Jersey will hold its Annual Pasta Night for Special Olympics. This event benefits the N.J. Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics which raises more than $3 million dollars annually for New Jersey’s Special Athletes. The Italian American Police Society of New Jersey is proud to continue as a Platinum Sponsor raising more than $22,000 last year at this Pasta Night. This is no pasta night like you have ever experienced. More than 1,000 homemade meatballs are prepared by hand according to my mother Marylin Schievella’s recipe. A crew of law enforcement officers, family members, friends, students and police explorers will unload trucks, dice, slice, cook and serve a gourmet authentic Italian meal to more than 450 people for a great cause. I urge you to support this important event and help us raise money to keep our Special Olympics athletes able to participate in programs free of charge. I want to thank NJ Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run Director Chief Robert Belfiore for his contused leadership of this program. We are so proud to be affiliated with this wonderful group!
I look forward to seeing you at a meeting or event this spring or summer. Please recruit another law enforcement or associate member to keep our organization the state’s largest police fraternal organization making the voices of Italian Americans heard throughout our region.
Fraternally yours,
William Schievella, President