San Pedro community leader June Burlingame Smith tells the story of how her late husband did not understand why she talked differently about her Italian side and English side of her family until he met them. The Italian side all talked at once and spoke passionately and fought about everything — but all from a place of love and care.
LA Harbor Commissioner talks about his dad immigrating from Italy on the Andrea Doria and the many ways he promoted Italian heritage in Los Angeles after he arrived, including starting a soccer club, co-hosting an Italian radio show, and promoting concerts that featured entertainers from Italy.
John Bagakis tells the story of getting to celebrate two consecutive major soccer championships, first with the unlikely victory by Greece at the 2004 European Cup and then two years later the 2006 World Cup championship won by Italy — a victory that meant so much to him that he gave away free pizzas at Big Nick’s, the restaurant he manages.
U.S. Army Major General Peter Gravett tells the story of protesting for civil rights with longtime San Pedro community leader, the late Dave Arian. Gravett, a former president of the local NAACP chapter also joined in peaceful protests of a San Pedro supermarket that refused to hire black people.
U.S. Army Major General Peter Gravett had a dual career in the military and law enforcement. General Gravett tells the dramatic story of how his heroic actions earned him an LAPD Medal of Valor.