Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Ossuarium Memoriale

1949

Photographed By AGS Media, June 23, 2011

1. Ossuarium Memoriale: L'Unione Italiana World War II Memorial

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

L'Unione Italiana
Left side:Dedicates this War
Memorial to honor and
perpetuate the memory
of those members who
gave their life for their
country

Paul P. Longo
President

Right side:Dedica questo
Memoriale per
onorare e perpetuare
la memoria dei
membri che diedero
la loro vita per
la patria.

Paul P. Longo
Presidente North (front) face:Emanuel, Tony C. 2nd. Lt. • June 19, 1919 • Aug. 15,1944
Guastella, Joe 2nd. Lt. • May 30, 1921 • Aug. 19, 1944
Guerriere, Cilio S. 1st. Lt. • Nov. 22, 1919 • Jan. 2, 1942
Italiano, Ignazio Sgt. • Dec. 8, 1916 • July 1, 1942East face:Boatwright, John W. Jr. PFC. • Aug. 20, 1925 • Nov. 4, 1944
Cusimano, Nelson L. PFC. • Feb. 11, 1917 • Sept. 3, 1944
Dominguez, Joe M. U.S.M.C. • July 8, 1921 • July 16, 1942South face:Lazzara, Joe PFC. • July 26, 1920 • Oct. 10, 1944
Ippolito, Frank PFC. • Mar. 1, 1931 • Apr. 24, 1951West face:Perrone, Gaetano F. T/Sgt. • June 2, 1913 • Dec. 31,

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1944
Tagliarini, Peter Jr. PFC. • Dec. 2, 1915 • June 20, 1942
Tagliarino, Sam Pvt. • July 11, 1924 • July 23, 1944

Erected by L'Unione Italiana (The Italian Club).

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, World II. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1940.

Location. 27° 58.281′ N, 82° 25.871′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is on North 26th Street north of East 22nd Avenue, on the left when traveling north. The memorial is located in the Jackson Heights neighborhood of Tampa, inside La Unione Italiana Cemetery, a.k.a. Italian Club Cemetery, along the enclosed cemetery's southern border. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tampa FL 33605, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Sgt. Nick Matassini (within shouting distance of this marker); Il Cimitero Dell’Unione Italiana (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); College Hill Cemetery (about 400 feet away); Florida Sentinel Bulletin (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. Benedict the Moor School (approx. half a mile away); Giunta Homestead and Farm (approx. 0.6 miles away); Cyrus Greene Park (approx. 0.7 miles

Memorial's North Face image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, June 18, 2011

2. Memorial's North Face

away); The El Reloj Cigar Factory and J.C. Newman Cigar Company (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

More about this marker. The Ossuarium Memoriale is also commonly known as "L'Unione Italiana WWII Memorial". The memorial is an open-air, octagonal structure supported by eight Tuscan order columns. Across the front entablature is inscribed "19 Ossuarium Memoriale 49". The roof appears to be copper and is topped by a cross. In the center stands a four-sided cenotaph upon which appear names, dates, and ceramic photos of some of the club's members who died in military service during World War II (and one member who served during the war but died afterward).

Despite the inscription of "Ossuarium" (english translation: "ossuary"), the memorial does not appear to contain actual remains. According to the club's cemetery registry, several of the men are buried in adjacent areas within the cemetery, while the remainder are not interred here.

Graves for other servicemen who died in WWII are found within the cemetery, but for reasons not apparent, their names do not appear on the WWII Memorial.

Regarding Ossuarium Memoriale. L'Unione

Memorial's East Face image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, June 23, 2011

3. Memorial's East Face

Italiana of Tampa is still an active social and cultural organization, operating from their elaborate club building in city's Historic Ybor neighborhood, and they ensure the Italian Club Cemetery (including the WWII Memorial) stays well maintained. The cemetery gates are open daily between 8 am and 3 pm.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Memorial's South Face image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, June 23, 2011

4. Memorial's South Face

Memorial's West Face image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, June 23, 2011

5. Memorial's West Face

Ossuarium Memoriale image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, June 23, 2011

6. Ossuarium Memoriale

Front entablature and cross

Photographed By AGS Media, June 18, 2011

7. Ossuarium Memoriale

La Unione Italiana Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed By AGS Media, June 18, 2011

8. La Unione Italiana Cemetery

Location of the war memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 2, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. This page has been viewed 748 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 2, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 3, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 6. submitted on July 5, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 7. submitted on July 3, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. 8. submitted on July 5, 2011, by Glenn Sheffield of Tampa, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.