Memorial Day to always remember...Florence,Italy

[Box and one]

Every Memorial day I always go back to my childhood.I have posted this a few times here.I grew up on an American Army base for 10 years[1957-1967] just outside of Florence,Italy.Every Memorial Day the elementary school children of Camp Darby would take the one hour bus trip to the Florence cemetary.We would put flags next to each grave.Also red poppies instead of flags.When you 6,7, and 8 years old your memories fade.I can remember the the lunches we had.P&'sJ without enough jelly and kool aid with little sugar.Warm also...we would go up line after line,grave after grave....remember so many soldiers were from Texas.Also it was one of the 1st times in my life I knew what the Jewish religion was.There were many that had a star on their grave.
I said this before here....all the American bus tours that come from Rome up to Florence pass the Cemetary.Some bus guides will say" if you look over to your left you can see an American Cemetary...yet none ever stop....Florence is about 10 miles away and everyone is excited about seeing the "Ponte Vecchio" and " David".
I look back now and think of these 4,500 American soldiers who died in Northern Italy in '44 and '45 and maybe these Perillo Tour buses wouldn't be going to Florence....like they do today....I also wonder how many of these kids that were killed ever had their relatives come to their grave side.
My father was in General Clark's 5th army in the invasion of Italy.He served as an AMG officer and was in the 11th jeep when Clark entered Rome on June 5th,1944.Clark made headlines all over the world as he captured Rome.But the next day was June 6th..something a little bigger happened at the beaches of Normandy.Clark's timing was bad...Rome was on the back pages forever....

Anyway,if you get a few minutes today look at these two video's.Enjoy the day buts let not forgot why we celebrate it..Peace to you all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gv8PJQY83LQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h8gmZ_7tbE

 

[WhatsHisNuts]

For a cemetery, that is a pretty cool place. Thanks for posting. I enjoyed watching that.

 

[Box and one]

Every Memorial Day I think of taking the US Army school buses and putting red poppies and flags on all the graves...how many things do we remember when your in 3rd,4th or 5th grade..but I will always remember Memorial Day...I posted this a few times over the years here...hope everyone has a nice memorial day..and lets remember why we celebrate it...

 

[The Mover]

.all the American bus tours that come from Rome up to Florence pass the Cemetary.Some bus guides will say" if you look over to your left you can see an American Cemetary...yet none ever stop....Florence is about 10 miles away and everyone is excited about seeing the "Ponte Vecchio" and " David".


We were on a Med. cruise 5-6 yrs ago our driver never even mentioned the cemetery. You are correct everyone was excited about seeing the Davis & Ponte Vecchio . Thanks for posting this every year.
I see my grand-daughters ages 10 & 6 probably 6-8 times a year, they stayed over this weekend & I asked my oldest if she knew the meaning or history of Memorial Day. She had no clue other than no school, swimming & visiting grand pa & ma. This is my fault why she had no idea, so I explained & she was confused why it was a holiday & people died. I also asked if they talked about it in school & she replied no.
They have a Memorial Day service every year that I walk down to at our local cemetery & pay my respects.
I was in the Navy 1965 for 18 mo. & was medically discharged during the Vietnam Era & men / women who were there were called advisors. My squadron just received their Cuban Crisis medals when I arrived. I've never been a big flag waver or ever trusted the military but I sure do respect the sacrifice of our men and woman.