State Historical Society of Iowa

Italian Immigrants in Iowa, April 15, 1942

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Carmen Benardino placing service star for her brother Luis on Sons of Aliens Service tag during ceremony at the Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa.
Courtesy of State Historical Society of Iowa, 15 April 1942

Description

Carmen Benardino places a service star for her brother, Lucas, on a Sons of Aliens Service flag during a ceremony at the Polk County Courthouse in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1942. Some U.S. communities viewed Italian-Americans as “enemy aliens” during the World War II and forced them to relocate from certain areas. Ceremonies like the one shown in the photo were meant to remind the public that Italian-Americans were doing their patriotic duty for their country.

Source-Dependent Question

  • What evidence is there of patriotism in the photograph? Are those patriotism symbols important, why or why not?