This Veterans Day, we honor the life and legacy of Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone, one of the most decorated heroes of World War II — and a proud Italian American whose courage continues to inspire generations.

Join Stephanie and her husband Jared, a U.S. Marine veteran, as they share the incredible story of Basilone’s bravery at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima, his deep devotion to his wife Lena Riggi, and the lasting impact of his sacrifice.

This special video version pairs the original audio with powerful historic photos and emotional visuals, bringing this unforgettable story to life.

🕯️ “We fight together and we fall together. No Marine left behind.”

🎙️ Bonus Episode: Mamma, That’s All Right — Italians in the American South

In this bonus episode of Italian American Stories, Stephanie sits down with director Valentina Signorelli and Italian musicians Luca Chiappara and Mario Monterosso to discuss their new documentary, Mamma, That’s All Right, which debuted at the National Italian American Foundation’s 50th Anniversary Gala in Washington, D.C.

The film follows Luca and Mario as they journey from Italy to the American South, tracing their pursuit of the American Dream through music, friendship, and culture. Set against the backroads of Nashville and Memphis, the story bridges two worlds, Sicily and Tennessee, through rhythm, heritage, and heart.

With a special cameo by Priscilla Presley, this conversation explores the shared soul between Italian passion and Southern sound, and the beauty of chasing dreams far from home. As Mario puts it best, “My family gave me my roots but rock and roll gave me my wings.”

Check out more information about the film at www.daitona.it

Follow Valentina, Luca and Mario

Valentina:

Instagram - @⁠cosmopolitan_londoner⁠

Luka:  

https://lucachiappara.com/

Instagram - @luca.chiappara

Facebook: “Luca Chiappara Music” page 

Mario:

⁠mariomonterosso.com⁠

Instagram - @marioredmount

Facebook page “Mario Monterosso Music”