VETERAN'S DAY SPECIAL EPISODE: Writing Home to Fitchburg

In this special release to honor our veterans, members of the Fitchburg community share a kaleidoscope of Fitchburg’s World War II experiences -- pulled directly from letters and writings saved in the archives of the Fitchburg Historical Society and Fitchburg State University.

In addition to hearing from different perspectives on the war, the episode includes a deep dive into the letters written of Michael Vincent Addorisio, a Fitchburg resident who died serving in the Philippines in 1944.  

Recorded at the Fitchburg Historical Society (FHS) on November 7, 2024, each of the readings is preceded by historical context provided by Susan Navarre, the Executive Director of FHS, and Dr. Teresa Fava Thomas, Professor of History at Fitchburg State University.  

The event was co-sponsored by the Fitchburg Historical Society, the Fitchburg State University Library Archives, the Center for Italian Culture, and the Fitchburg Community Read.  

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Special thanks to Susan Navarre, the Executive Director of the Fitchburg Historical Society; Jacalyn Kremer, the Dean of the Amelia V. Gallucci-Cirio Library on the Fitchburg State campus; Asher Jackson; Jessie Olson, Prof. Teresa Fava Thomas; and Rose Ann Addorisio and Concetta Ayles, Michael Addorisio's nieces.

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Episode transcript can be found here.

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The episode was produced by Perseverantia, the Fitchburg State Podcast Network in conjunction with the Fitchburg Historical Society and the Fitchburg Community Read.

Click here to learn more about Perseverantia. Join us for programming updates on Instagram. Or reach out with ideas or suggestions at podcasts@fitchburgstate.edu.