Memoria Day 2008
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26th May 2008 - Memorial Day celebrations, with their solemnity and meaning, leave a lasting impression on those who assemble on the last Monday of May each year to commemorate American men and women who perished while in military service to their country.
For us, this means attending the ceremonies at the ABMC Florence American Cemetery and Memorial at Falciani, where we also stopped during the “Route of the Heart” event in 2007.
Our attendance at the Florence Memorial Day celebrations has become a customary event. As in the past few years, we were invited to participate in period uniforms and with a few vehicles. This year, together with us we had the pleasure of having a few guests from abroad: eight members of the First Special Service Force living History Group United Kingdom, together with two Italian friends of the Historicus Association from the Mignano area. Last but not least, Mr. William Magee, FSSF Canadian veteran from the campaigns in Italy and Southern France.
We assemble at 9:00 a.m. near the Cemetery, to organize our arrival there aboard our historical military vehicles – Marco Poggiali’s 2 ½-ton GMC truck, and three Willys MB jeeps owned by Ciampi, Grifoni, and Pampaloni. Giovanni Sullas’s group of the “Brothers of the Mountain” from the Montese area is also with us, as was the case in the past.
Our little column arrives at the Cemetery on time, stirring the usual friendly reaction among the audience, our friends of the ABMC staff, as well as the many servicemen from the Italian and US forces, who attend the ceremonies in an official capacity. These include delegations from the US SETAF HQ in Vicenza, the 31st Fighter Wing Honor Guard from Aviano, the Band of the Italian Carabinieri, the Italian Army HQ. Many distinguished officials, both civilian and military, from both countries, are attending in honor to the fallen. Also, many associations contribute their share, among them notably the International Police Association and the Florence Voice Seminar of Westminster Choir College of Rider University.
During the hour-long ceremony, which takes place under a perfect sun – different from last year – Chaplain Gabriele Bezzi of the Italian Finance and Border Corps delivers the opening prayer. He is followed by the US Ambassador in Italy, the Hon. Ronald P. Spogli, who reads the Presidential proclamation. Italian authorities are represented by the Undersecretary of Defense, the Hon. Guido Crosetto, who delivers a beautiful speech embracing the history of the past and its meaning for our troubled present. Gen. William B. Garrett III, Commander, US Army SETAF, delivers the closing speech, before wreaths are solemnly laid at the base of the wall bearing the Tablets of the Missing in Action.
The beautiful singing of “Amazing Grace” by the Florence Voice Seminar is followed by the prayers by Joseph Levi, head Rabbi of Florence's Sephardic synagogue, and by Major Gregory O. Tyree, US Army Presbyterian Military Chaplain. Then, the rifle salute by the US Army unit acting as honor platoon echoes through the hills. The ceremony ends somberly with a touching interpretation of Taps, played by two buglers echoing each other from the Memorial and the burial areas where the white headstones mark the graves of many American soldiers who died in Italy north of Rome.
After the ceremony, we take a few photos and many people come greeting us for our presence, among them several Italian WWII veterans.
We finish our day together, traditionally, having a lunch together at a nearby location, a pleasant way to strengthen our friendship, with a view of meeting together again next year, to bring our little contribution in memory and honoring those who gave their life to liberate our country.
Photo Gallery
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