Pelham Post 50 Invites World War II Veterans Nationwide to 60th Anniversary of Allied Triumph in Italy
The American Legion, led by Post 50 Pelham NY is working with several government organizations to hold ceremonies in May to commemorate the end of World War II in Italy. Memorial events will be held at the Sicily - Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno on May 2nd and at the Florence American Cemetery on May 5th. Representatives of the United States Military based in Naples including the Sixth Fleet Band are scheduled to participate. Post 50 initiated these ceremonies when it as realized that no other group had initiated a plan to remember the 19,000 Americans lost liberating Italy.
Pelham, NY (PRWEB) February 4, 2005 -- Pelham Post 50 of The American Legion has invited veteran's groups from across the country to participate in the memorial services it is planning in Italy in May 2005 as a commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the end of World War II and the liberation of the country by American and Allied forces.
Post 50 began this project when members realized that no ceremony had been planned to recognize the end of the war in Italy which cost 19,000 American lives. The commemoration project has been endorsed by Donald G. Ford, County of Westchester Commander for the American Legion, and Paul A. Cortright, New York State Commander. Post 50 and these leaders have invited American Legion Posts across New York State to send representatives. Invitations to state commanders across the country are also planned. A letter from Thomas P. Cadmus, National Commander of the American Legion, indicated national support for the project: "I want to encourage you to go forward with your plans, WWII veterans are a large part of why freedom prevails not only in America but also in many other countries around the world."
With slightly more than 100 days left before departing for Italy, Post 50 is coordinating plans with the Department of Defense World War II 60th Anniversary Commemoration Committee (http://www.60wwii.mil/), which is hosting a series of events commemorating the end of World War II at battle and cemetery sites around the world as well as large veterans gatherings domestically. Post 50 has made reservations to conduct ceremonies with the American Battle Monument Commission (http://abmc.gov/), which operates 24 overseas cemeteries and provides website listing the burial locations of 93,000 Americans lost in service to their country during WWII. Post 50 is coordinating with US Embassy staff in Rome and is developing an agenda for a ceremony at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial at Nettuno, Italy on Monday 2nd, the 60th anniversary date of the liberation of Italy. On Thursday May 5th a similar event will be held at the Florence American Military Cemetery and Museum.
Post 50 has also invited participation by a wide variety of veterans groups including associations representing those who served in Italy during WWII such as Army divisions and regiments, U.S. Navy ships, and Army Air Force bomber and fighter wings. Although the military unit associations are spread across the country, members are often very close emotionally since in many cases they knew each other during military service, trained at the same bases, or served in the same areas. Groups such as the Anzio Beachhead Veterans have made periodic returns to Italy to remember their lost comrades and have been warmly received by the Italian government and people. Several very appreciative comments have been received by Post 50 from WWII veterans and have been added to the project website, www.WWII60thItaly.com.
News of this project was forwarded to several British and Commonwealth veterans groups – including the British Ministry of Defence, the Royal British Legion and the Italy Star Association 1943 - 1945. (Italy Star Association is composed of British military members who served in Italy during WWII) – which expressed interest in participating. The British are planning events in London, to be led by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for Sunday, July 10th. The war in Italy featured a close (and occasionally competitive) relationship between American and other Allied forces when securing adjacent beachheads and mountain valleys. The opportunity for a ceremony at a British or Commonwealth cemetery in Italy is being investigated.
The ceremonies at the two American Military Cemeteries in Italy will be planned according guidelines used for the Memorial Day tribute in Pelham. Additional features will be the playing of the Italian National Anthem and greetings provided by a representative of the Italian government.
Post 50 was very pleased to be informed by the WWII 60th Anniversary Committee that military honor guards and the Sixth Fleet Band based in Naples, Italy have been assigned to support both ceremonies in Nettuno and Florence. Pelham's own community singing group, the Pelham Larks plan have accepted an invitation to make the trip and contribute their talents to the ceremonies. A concert opportunity for the Larks to perform their presentation of American cultural music in Rome is being researched. Clergy are being sought to participate in the ceremonies.
Travel opportunities to Italy can be obtained by calling Harriet Balter of Rich Worldwide Travel at 1-888-882-7400 or Andy Ambrose of the Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours at 1-888-903-3329. The 2002 Stephen Ambrose book, The Wild Blue, details the 35 B-24 flights flown by George McGovern and the high rate of casualties the Army Air Force crews suffered. The book pointed out the contributions in Italy of the famous African-American fighter pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen, who flew P-51 fighters over Italy protecting the bombers and ground forces.
Pelhamites who were lost in the Italian campaign include fliers Richard Lewis Elliott, Kendall King Fish, Paul A. McCarthy, Bertley H. Moberg, James H. Scott, and Ellsworth Totten III. Herbert Retallack was lost when the destroyer USS Rowan was torpedoed after leaving Salerno, and William Lisecki was lost as an infantryman.
A response to a press release announcing Post 50's plans was received from Col. David Hackworth, author and commentator heard on national TV and radio broadcasts. In emphasizing the importance of the planned ceremonies in Italy, Col. Hackworth cited the words of George Washington: "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly Proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their Nation."
The American Legion with 2.7 million members, is the world's largest veteran's association. Pelham Post 50, commanded in 2004-2005 by Michael Barrett, organizes Pelham's Memorial Day parade and a variety of other veteran's and community support projects.
Contact:
Kenneth G. Kraetzer
(914) 630-3457 or
kgk914@aol.com)
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