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) 381-5353 or
e-mail protected from spam bots)
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/2/prweb204901.htm