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Archiver > KYBRECKI > 2007-07 > 1185640287


From: "Donde H. Smith" <>
Subject: Re: [KYBRECKI] Overseas Cemetery help for those from Breck. Co.
Date: Sat, 28 Jul 2007 12:31:27 -0400
References: <001b01c7c81e$0c29ab60$496fe004@dana>
In-Reply-To: <001b01c7c81e$0c29ab60$496fe004@dana>


writes:
>My dad's brother died when dad was only 6 years old. Uncle Billy served
>with the Army in WWII at Anzio Beach in Italy, and one of the few things
>I knew about him was that my grandparents had his flag, his purple heart,
>and their memories. He wasn't able to be brought back for burial in the
>family cemetery, so he was buried over "there"... as I recall being told.
> The "over there" is the Florence-American Cemetery in Florence, Italy.

Hi Dana--

I was going back through email (trying to clear out my account some
more--never ending battle--I can't imagine what yours must be like!!) and
found this, and wondered if I ever commented on it.

We have something else in common--my Mom's brother was also killed at
Anzio, and buried in the Florence American Cemetery (Plot I Row 9 Grave
55) When I was in college (1968) I was fortunate enough to be able to
visit the Cemetery (about an hour's drive outside of Rome) It was
breathtakingly beautiful. I was the first person from our family to ever
see it. Luckily my Grandmother (he was her first born) and my mother were
able to visit late in the 70s. [My grandmother was amazing (born in Glen
Dean.) She raised six children--her husband died when the oldest was 8.
They had a farm in Yuma, AZ. All six kids went to college, four
graduated. She was a stunt double for Ruth Hall in John Wayne's Three
Musketeers--she did all the riding. She regularly won blue ribbons for
her cooking and sewing at the County Fair and lived to be 97.]

I have since seen too many military cemeteries, but I have always found
them to be beautiful and well kept and a tribute to all the Americans who
fought and died for what they believed in: our country and people.
When we lived in Hawaii (3 years with the Marines Corps in the 70s--my
youngest son was born there!) we would visit the big cemetery on Oaha at
Memorial Day. Every year they flew in many helicopter's worth of orchids
and beautiful flowers from the Big Island and put them on all the graves.

Have a good weekend!
Love 'ya-
Donde

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