Photo credit: Janet Donovan
“I’ve got a wooden spoon anytime for you pal,” actor Joe Mantegna told fellow actor Tony Lo Bianco who presented Mantegna with the Saint Pio Award at a ceremony at the Naval Heritage Center. Lo Bianco had just disclosed Mantegna’s traveling accessories that always includes a collection of wooden spoons for making pasta sauce. The evening also honored Franco Nuschese, proprietor of Cafe Milano in Georgetown, for his outstanding contribution to the Catholic Church.
Both received an original oil painting created in a unique design illustrating Saint Pio and the recipient. Special guests included The Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, Archbishop for the Military Services, USA; H.E. Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of the Diocese of Bridgeport (CT); and Singer/Actor Franc d’Ambrosia, all of whom celebrated the spiritual charisma of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, universally acclaimed saint of the Catholic Church.
Joe Mantegna and Franco Nuschese
“I had somewhat of a Catholic education as a child,” Mantegna reminisced, “though not a complete one because my parents couldn’t afford to put me through Catholic school for very long. It was for just a couple years, but it was enough time to have a few knuckles cracked by a few nuns, and chased by a few brothers.” He then explained how he, like many young people, began to question his faith until it came into focus in the year 2000. “I happened to be making a movie in France and I was driving through this small town outside Paris, about an hour outside Paris where we were shooting the film, and I saw this beautiful cemetery. The French flag was flying and right next to it was the flag of the United States of America. I said to my driver, ‘What is that? Why is there an American flag and this French flag flying together?’ He says that’s a military cemetery where many of your countrymen died defending this city.”
“The image I took away was these hundreds and hundreds of crosses, these white crosses, and I thought to myself, these men died so I could live in this country that we take for granted,” he added. “When I got back from Paris I stopped at a store and I bought this cross. I bought this cross because of them, because of the countless others, and countless other crosses that I saw years later at Arlington and military cemeteries around the United States and other countries.” To this day, Mantegna still wears the cross.
Pat Harrison and Joe Mantegna
Pat Harrison, CEO of Corporation of Public Broadcasting, introduced Nuschese. “Franco truly embodies the best of America and Italy in terms of his love of life, his love of family, his commitment to the Catholic Church and his generosity to those in need.”
“I came to the United States in 1982 at 21,” joked Franco, “and it was pretty difficult to get inspired in Las Vegas.” Surprisingly, he studied acting at a school created by all time top comedian Jerry Lewis where he learned ‘comedy’ – a talent he said is needed in the restaurant business because every day is comedic.
“It fills me with humility and makes me feel very very deep,” he added upon receiving the St. Pio award.
Hollywood on the Potomac sat down with Joe Mantegna and discussed Veterans, the Saint Pio Award, Memorial Day and on being Italian:
The Saint Pio Awards to Joe Mantegna and Franco Nuschese:
