1937 Gold Lion Banner OSIA 1809

Another item from our lodge that is currently at the Black Diamond Historical Museum. If anyone knows who made our banner and the year, I'd love to include more about it here.

In the OSIA initiation ritual, there is reference to the golden lion. "Upon what principles is our order based?" "On the principles of LIBERTY, EQUALITY, and FRATERNITY, and its insignia is a Golden Lion on a white field." 

The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA) was founded on June 22, 1905 at 203 Grand Street in New York City. An Italian immigrant, Dr. Vincenzo Sellaro, and five compatriots; pharmacist Ludovico Ferrari, attorney Antonio Marzullo, sculptor Giuseppe Carlino and barbers Pietro Viscardi and Robert Merlo, created the organization to unite men and women of Italian heritage under one banner in order to preserve and disseminate the large cultural heritage of Italy. They also felt a need to promote and advance their progress everywhere within the framework of American society. - OSIA New York