Remembering Heroes

When Tom and I went to Tuscany in October, we flew in and out of Florence. On our last day, en route to the airport, I wanted to stop and visit the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial.  I've mentioned it before on this blog that my maternal grandfather served in Italy during World War II and my paternal grandfather was in the Pacific. Both of them survived the war but so many others did not. Visiting the cemetery, for me, was a way of honoring both of my grandfathers' service and the service and sacrifice of so many who did not come home.

Delmar Marks, United States Army

Unit patches of the Northern Italian Campaign

In front of the memorial is a pylon with a sculpture on the top. It's called the Spirit of Peace.

Spirit of Peace

Inscription at the base of the pylon.

The figure hovers over the fallen, bearing olive branches.

Tablets of the Missing - 1,409 names are inscribed here

Inside the memorial is a chapel

 Markers throughout the memorial honor the service members and their units.

This one reads: "They faced the foe as they drew near him in the strength of their own manhood and when the shock of battle came they in a moment of time at the climax of their lives were rapt away from a world filled for their dying eyes not with terror but with glory."

"O Lord support us all the day long until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the fever of life is over and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last."

A map showing the Northern Italy campaign and unit patches

The Florence American Cemetery and Memorial is managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission.  The commission manages 24 military cemeteries and 25 memorials, monuments and markers in 15 countries around the world, including three memorials in the United States.  The ABMC was established by the U.S. Congress in 1923. Family members have consented to their loved ones being buried overseas.

Looking towards the Spirit of Peace and the memorial.

There are 4,398 service members buried in the cemetery.

There are 76 Stars of David.

Headstones honoring the 213 unidentified service members read: "Here rests in honored glory a comrade in arms known but to God."

One of the unit memorials - 361st Infantry 91st Division

On February 5 my mom called to tell me that my Grandpa Marks had died. He would have turned 88 on April 1st.  My grandpa had been in hospice care for a while, so it wasn't a complete surprise, but that didn't make the news any easier to hear.

My mother is the genealogist in the family so she knows the details of my grandfather's life more than I do. I think my grandpa had a good life but it was a difficult one too. His father was killed by a train when he was a baby, leaving his mother with several children she was deemed unable to care and provide for. Many of my grandpa's siblings were sent off to orphanages to be adopted out and cared for by strangers. Fortunately, my grandfather was able to stay with his mother. To this day, our family does not know what happened to one of his brothers, who was adopted after the train accident. My grandpa also spent his childhood and youth in the Great Depression, which shaped that entire generation.

He met and married my grandmother and they had four children. My grandfather had many jobs during his life but I remember best his hobbies - lapidary, crossword puzzles and quilting. I remember a trip I went on with my grandparents to Michigan, meeting many family members for the first time, and summers spent in Utah, when they'd drive out from Florida in their motor home.

My grandparents were lovingly referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Claus and certainly, in their older years, resembled the jolly couple. They both gave great hugs, told me they loved me and I felt it, and they were always there for the big occasions - high school and college graduations and my wedding; and I was there for their 50th wedding anniversary. Here are some pictures that my family pulled together for my grandpa's memorial.   

Grandpa as a young man

My grandparents with my maternal great-grandmother.

Probably taken in the early 70s

Probably taken in the early 90s

My grandmother died in 2002 so she attended my wedding in spirit.

I last saw my grandfather in February 2011. I was in Washington DC for training and made a special trip to Florida to see him. My mom thinks this photo below is my brother but my aunt thinks it is me.  I can't remember how much my brother and I looked a like as babies but there's a 50/50 chance it's me so I'm going to use it.

February 2011 - I love you Grandpa!