WHEREAS, Giuseppa Russo (Mannino) was born in Carini, Sicily (Italy) to Salvatore Mannino and Rosalia Troia and lived in Caracas, Venezuela and Toronto, Canada before immigrating to the United States of America at age 15 when she and her family moved to Somerset, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Giuseppa "Josie" Russo attended Franklin Township High School and worked at her father's restaurant, Sal's Pizza and Subs, where she met another Italian immigrant Giuseppe "Joe" Russo, who was filling in for a cook months after he first saw Josie in Brooklyn; and

WHEREAS, Josie and Joe Russo fell in love, married, and opened and sold restaurants across New Jersey and Canada before moving to Virginia after the birth of their daughter, where they opened Joe's Pizza and Subs restaurants, including in Nokesville and Gainesville; and

WHEREAS, Josie and Joe Russo have both been in the restaurant business for about 40 years, are parents and grandparents who live and work in Prince William County, and opened Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano at 15120 Washington Street on Haymarket Day in 2006 to bring their own style of authentic Italian food to the Town of Haymarket; and

WHEREAS, Josie Russo has been active in the community, speaking at Haymarket Town Council meetings, sponsoring events in the community, helping town residents who have needed a hand, and serving as the Grand Marshall of the Haymarket Day 2017 parade; and

WHEREAS, even after years of battling cancer, Josie Russo still regularly shows up to greet employees and diners alike at Giuseppe's Ristorante Italiano, which has become a staple of the Town of Haymarket for both town residents and out-of-town diners; and

WHEREAS, Haymarket Mayor David Leake described Josie and Joe Russo as having "always been steadfast just doing the right thing and being good people"; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Giuseppa Russo hereby be commended for her dedication to the Town of Haymarket and Prince William County as a cherished and beloved community leader; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Giuseppa Russo as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for her presence in the community, commitment to her family, and civic engagement in the Town of Haymarket.