Dr. Salvatore J. LaGumina Longtime Massapequa resident, Dr. Salvatore J. LaGumina's latest work, The Humble and the Heroic, Wartime I t a l i a n Americans, was released this past May.

LaGumina, an Emeritus professor at N a s s a u Community College, has resided in Massapequa for almost 50 years.

In his book he explores the field of Italian American studies. As a lecturer on immigrat i o n , LaGumina

is able to combine his own personal experience with history of the times to portray the journey of New York's Italians to become Americans.

Similar to the goal of Tom Brokaw's The Greatest Generation, The Humble and the Heroic, Wartime Italian Americans, illuminates the contribution Italian Americans had on America's victory in the war.

The book is not only targeted to Italian Americans. Dr. Frank J. Cavioli, a professor at SUNY F a r m i n g dale, says "it serves as a model for all the newlyarrived immigrants in the Americanization process."

T h e director of I t a l i a n American studies at Stony Brook University, F r e d Gardalphe, says the book is "accessible to a wide range of readers and reward the student and scholar alike."

St. Rose of Lima will be hosting a book signing for LaGumina Saturday, June 24 following the 5:15 p.m. mass and Sunday June 25 following the 7:30, 8:45, and 11:30 a.m. masses. Profits from the event will benefit St. Rose Parish Outreach.