This was definitely the most memorable site of my Italian vacation. This cemetery in Florence, Italy is the final resting place for 4,402 American servicemen who died fighting to help liberate Italy during WWII. I felt honored and saddened as I stood there listening to our Italian docent as he read a letter from PFC Bernard Cummings. A letter that he wrote to his mother, asking her if she heard from his brother who was fighting in France. His brother was already killed by then, and before Bernard's letter reached his mother, he was also killed. His letter's envelope was marked "Deceased". http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/florence-cemetery-memorial-firenze?select=Mb4HAWEOixgHjrtfm8f5LQ&utm_campaign=www_photo_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
By the time the docent finished reading the letter, there wasn't a dry eye in our group of 20. We then walked to Bernard's headstone, one of the 4,402 headstones. And this is only a small representation of the millions of lives lost. All, with their own sad story.
There are 25 other American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) military cemeteries overseas. For the Florence American Cemetery & Memorial website go to
http://www.abmc.gov/
* Select 'Cemeteries & Memorials' at the top of the page.
* Scroll down to the bottom of the page.
* Select 'Florence American Memorial'.
We should NEVER forget these fallen WWII soldiers, and the Soldiers of Today who fight for our freedom! read more