Our Italian Thankgiving November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today we wanted to do something special in commemoration of the holiday we would spend without family or friends. We decided we would visit the American Military Cemetery outside of Florence near Falciani. This cemetery has a special meaning to me as my uncle is buried here. This is my mother’s brother who was in the American Air Corps. His plane was shot down over Italy on March 20, 1945 just 43 days before the surrender of the axis forces in Italy on May 2. Paul Loenneke was 21 years old when he died.
There are 4,402 servicemen and women interred at the cemetery, most of them died in the fighting after the capture of Rome in June 1944. The cemetery is set on the banks of the Greve River with the grave sites being on the west bank. It is a beautiful area surrounded by wooded hills and is in immaculate condition. A large memorial on the western edge overlooks the park.
We traveled to the cemetery on a local bus which deposited us a kilometer or so from the gate. We walked back and crossed the Greve River bridge and found the office closed for lunch. There was a phone outside the office with instructions on how to contact the office. We did so and within five minutes the manager, a retired service man arrived. After taking the information he located Uncle Paul’s grave and drove us to it. He was extremely helpful and we could tell cared much for the people that are in his care. We lingered at the grave site while stories my mother told me about her brother came to mind. I am sorry that I never knew Uncle Paul and will always be grateful to him for the sacrifice he made. I am glad we were able to pay our respects on this Thanksgiving Day and if there is a hereafter I hope he knows he was not alone today.
We took the bus back to town and had a traditional American lunch at McDonalds. It was the closest thing to a turkey dinner that we could find but somehow the food and the lack of loved ones made the meal a less joyful one.
We walked to the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) after our feast. Started in 1296 the huge Romanesque structure was not completed until 1436. An elaborate façade in neo-gothic style was added in the 19th century to complement the original work however, it is the magnificent dome on the structure that commands respect and appreciation.
From there we walked along the Arno River and took more and better pictures of the Ponte Vecchio. The oldest bridge in Florence it was built in 1345. It was built wide enough to accommodate shops along its spans. These were originally blacksmiths, butchers and tanners. Duke Ferdinando I made a smart business move and replaced the original tenets with jewelers and goldsmiths that were able to pay a higher rent, and who I also suspect made for a more pleasant crossing of the bridge. Jewelry and goldsmith shops still line the bridge today.
Finally came our Thanksgiving treat; we stopped at a small café and had chocolate cake with coconut and real whipped cream and strong Italian coffee. A 1960’s American movie, dubbed over in Italian, was playing in background. It may not have been the traditional dessert or football fest, but it was part of our Italian Thanksgiving.
Today we wanted to do something special in commemoration of the holiday we would spend without family or friends. We decided we would visit the American Military Cemetery outside of Florence near Falciani. This cemetery has a special meaning to me as my uncle is buried here. This is my mother’s brother who was in the American Air Corps. His plane was shot down over Italy on March 20, 1945 just 43 days before the surrender of the axis forces in Italy on May 2. Paul Loenneke was 21 years old when he died.
There are 4,402 servicemen and women interred at the cemetery, most of them died in the fighting after the capture of Rome in June 1944. The cemetery is set on the banks of the Greve River with the grave sites being on the west bank. It is a beautiful area surrounded by wooded hills and is in immaculate condition. A large memorial on the western edge overlooks the park.
We traveled to the cemetery on a local bus which deposited us a kilometer or so from the gate. We walked back and crossed the Greve River bridge and found the office closed for lunch. There was a phone outside the office with instructions on how to contact the office. We did so and within five minutes the manager, a retired service man arrived. After taking the information he located Uncle Paul’s grave and drove us to it. He was extremely helpful and we could tell cared much for the people that are in his care. We lingered at the grave site while stories my mother told me about her brother came to mind. I am sorry that I never knew Uncle Paul and will always be grateful to him for the sacrifice he made. I am glad we were able to pay our respects on this Thanksgiving Day and if there is a hereafter I hope he knows he was not alone today.
We took the bus back to town and had a traditional American lunch at McDonalds. It was the closest thing to a turkey dinner that we could find but somehow the food and the lack of loved ones made the meal a less joyful one.
We walked to the Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) after our feast. Started in 1296 the huge Romanesque structure was not completed until 1436. An elaborate façade in neo-gothic style was added in the 19th century to complement the original work however, it is the magnificent dome on the structure that commands respect and appreciation.
From there we walked along the Arno River and took more and better pictures of the Ponte Vecchio. The oldest bridge in Florence it was built in 1345. It was built wide enough to accommodate shops along its spans. These were originally blacksmiths, butchers and tanners. Duke Ferdinando I made a smart business move and replaced the original tenets with jewelers and goldsmiths that were able to pay a higher rent, and who I also suspect made for a more pleasant crossing of the bridge. Jewelry and goldsmith shops still line the bridge today.
Finally came our Thanksgiving treat; we stopped at a small café and had chocolate cake with coconut and real whipped cream and strong Italian coffee. A 1960’s American movie, dubbed over in Italian, was playing in background. It may not have been the traditional dessert or football fest, but it was part of our Italian Thanksgiving.
posted by Gary and Holly Davis @ 11:49 AM
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