Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society • Mt. Carmel Lane • PO BOX 182 • Hammonton, NJ 08037 • 609-561-4818
Sponsors of the Longest Running Italian Festival in the United States and a Hammonton, NJ Tradition Since 1875!
saxula band
The ITALIANS Were Here!!!
Herb Roselle, Captain of the Carmine Pantalone Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society Band, had a vision. He wanted to explore the possibility of having the Saxula Brass Band from San Gregorio da Sassola, Italy come over to Hammonton, NJ and perform. He pitched his idea to the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society. We immediately decided to sponsor the event. While rallying support for the event, the Sons of Italy, Lodge 1658 decided that they would like to co-sponsor the event with the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Society. What a team this was!
With the help of the Atlantic Brass Band, the OLMC Society and the Sons of Italy went to work. A committee was formed and headed by Anthony Jacobs of the OLMC Society. Grayce Pitera provided the much appreciated press releases and pictorials. The committee devised numerous fund raising events and brought the concert to fruition.
The Saxula Brass Band was our guest for ten days and performed two sold out concerts at the Hammonton High School Performing Arts Center along with concerts in Middle Twp. and Paulsboro.
The event was a complete success and more importantly, lifelong relationships were formed with all of the people involved.
On August 23rd it became official! Hammontonians and San Gregorians are brothers and sisters!
Hammonton, NJ USA "twinned" with San Gregorio da Sassola, ITALY. We have brought a connection to our town that can never be broken. Our Italian forefathers on both sides of the ocean would be so proud.
