On Tuesday October 18, Vice President Joe Biden welcomed His Excellency Matteo Renzi Prime Minster of Italy at a luncheon in the Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room. Guests dined on arugula salad followed by a vegetable course of squash, and entrée of roasted quail, and pumpkin budino for dessert. The lunch was prepared by Chef Tony Manuano.

Polite conversation enlivened the tables at a State luncheon. Secretary of State, John Kerry, and former Secretaries of State were in attendance. Foreign dignitaries listened to lighthearted addresses, rubbed elbows with the Italian Prime Minister; his wife, Mrs. Agnese Landini, other members of the State Department, some high ranking members of the military, and a regular guy from North Royalton, Ohio.
What? Wait a minute – back that up. Regular guys from North Royalton don’t attend State luncheons in honor of the Italian Prime Minister, until now. Deputy Registrar of the license bureau, Aldo Filippelli, received an invitation to attend the State Luncheon in honor of his Excellency Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Renzi, to be held Tuesday, October 18. As a proud American of Italian heritage; a parishioner of St. Albert the Great Church, and member of St. Rocco’s parish, home to the Labor Day Weekend Italian Festival and Greased Pole contest, Aldo Filippelli accepted the invitation in a heartbeat. What could be more amazing than being invited to an official Department of State luncheon in honor of Italy’s Prime Minister in the Ben Franklin Room, one of the most important meeting rooms in Washington D.C.?
The Ben Franklin Room is the largest of the Diplomatic Reception Rooms located at the U. S. Department of State. Located in the Harry S. Truman Building; the Ben Franklin Room is named after the “Father of the American Foreign Service.” It is used to entertain both foreign and American guests. The classically designed room pays tribute to our Founding Father and first diplomat, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, who was well known for conducting serious negotiations through diplomacy accompanied by good food and good wine. The Great Seal of the United States, sculpted in plaster and gilt, decorates the center of the ceiling, along with eight sparkling cut-glass chandeliers. The carpeting, made for the dining room, also has the Great Seal of the United States, symbols of the four important crops from the early times of the American Republic, representations of the four seasons, and fifty stars representing one for each state in the Union. A 1767 portrait of Franklin, the Venerable Sage himself, hangs in the center of the far wall.
Filippelli could only be amazed that he had walked onto the international stage.
Filippelli did indeed speak to the Prime Minister about the future. “I truly enjoyed my conversation with Prime Minister Renzi, we discussed the importance of encouraging understanding and appreciation for our Italian heritage and facilitating communication on business development and commerce between regional and local government. We also discussed business expansion – this allowed me the opportunity to promote the City of North Royalton,” he said. “My conversation with Vice President Biden relating to international business leadership, focused on three main questions: What values do we share in common; what will be the impact; and how can we make a difference.”
Filippelli hopes that someday, business relations with Italy will make an impact here in North Royalton.
Filippelli made his travel arrangements through United Airlines with the help of Jamie Miezin; that was the easy part. The FBI and the Secret Service had to allow him security clearance before he could get anywhere near the Ben Franklin Dining Room. “Detailed instructions for this event were not provided to me until the evening before the event,” wxplained Aldo. “Proper photo identification was needed to proceed through all security checkpoints and to enter this event. Security was very thorough.”
Vice President Biden addressed the gathering ,welcoming Prime Minister Rinzi, “Today the United States is proud to meet the challenges of the new age with Italy as our close partner and Ally in NATO. Our relationship is rooted in history and built for the future we must meet together.”

By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer