This month's exhibition, created by local Vito DiPaola, features a historical representation honoring WWII veterans of Westerly, Rhode Island including audio interviews, photos, maps and military documents. Stop into the Hoxie Gallery Wednesday, February 3rd to meet Vito and enjoy light bites while viewing the work he put together. The exhibition will be on view February 3rd-26th during library hours.

Vito DiPaola is a Westerly native who is an avid researcher of the town’s history. His most recent exhibit, titled “Italian Immigrants in Westerly: Their Stories,” was a popular and well-received show for local residents. 

For this exhibit, Vito has documented the World War II military histories of many citizens of the Westerly area. They served in Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean, the North Atlantic, and the Pacific. They were Marines, airmen, sailors, and infantry. They fought in all the major battles, suffered war wounds, were taken prisoner, and some paid the ultimate price. In using their personal interviews, their contemporary letters home, and the archives of the Westerly Sun, Vito brings to life their remarkable war records. 

Vito graduated from Westerly High School and Dartmouth College, and retired from the United States Foreign Service as an overseas diplomat in various U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Africa and the Middle East.