USAG Italy’s Army Community Service turns 61, honors Italians

VICENZA, Italy - As Vicenza Military Community members gathered recently to celebrate the 61st birthday of Army Community Service, they also highlighted Alice Manfrin - a Vicenza-born Army spouse who's contributed greatly to improving the lives of others.

Manfrin spends her free time teaching line dancing lessons at the USO. She also fosters a sense of community and belonging by leading sewing and crocheting meetups. She knows how hard it can be when new to a community or being unfamiliar with the language.

"That's why I started hanging out here to connect with other spouses that were maybe going through the same thing," Manfrin said.

Manfrin was honored with the "Bridging Cultures" certificate at the July 15 ACS birthday event on Caserma Ederle. Both Col. Vaughn Strong, USAG's commander and Jolly Miller, the ACS director, presented her the award. Alberto Cristoferi, an environmental engineer from the garrison's Directorate of Public Works, also got an award for his contributions that include, among other things, caring for the feral cats on post.

In 1965, ACS was born - the same year as Dr. Dre and Kevlar. That was the same year the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd began. America was at war in Vietnam.

Since then, ACS has grown. It's known for services like employment readiness, volunteering, survivor outreach, financial readiness and the Exceptional Family Member Program. They also help people acclimate to Italy, such as Benvenuti, a three-day class for newcomers which covers local transport, culture, and the Italian language.

Check out this video from the ACS Birthday event on Caserma Ederle

Miller, whose staff is currently facing shortages, thanked community members for their patience and her staff and volunteers for their enthusiasm and good attitude.

"Everything that we do is education and prevention for the well-being and readiness of Soldiers and their families," Miller said. "I think the thing that resonated most with people today is how ACS carries out the Army values of respect, selfless service, and integrity".

Looking on, Paula Villalobos, a USO Coordinator, was glad to see Manfrin recognized.

"She's offered a link between our Italian and American communities, helping to explain how we are perceived by Italians," said Villalobos, who added that Manfrin has a really good energy about her and is always trying to help people.

Newcomers looking for a sense of belonging often find success by getting involved in beginner-friendly social settings like line dancing and fiber arts can help make the transition to living overseas easier, Manfrin said. She would like to expand her community service to after-hours gatherings. A native Italian speaker, Manfrin also helps Americans find arts and crafts supplies and talk with Italian landlords and kindergarten teachers.

"It's very rewarding to me because I got a lot of positive feedback," she said.

For more information about Army Community Service, visit Building 108 on Caserma Ederle or call 0444-71-5800.