Day 5 Part 1

Italy Day 5, Part 1... the American Cemetery from WW2 near Florence

During WW2 the American Armies worked their way up the Italian peninsula from the south.  There are three cemeteries in Italy for American soldiers from WW2.  As the troops made their way north, an additional cemetery was needed, and then finally a third.

We stopped this morning at the 2nd US cemetery in Italy.  It is near Florence and holds about 4300 graves from the fighting in 1944 and 1945.  One row of young men after another.

This is the map of the campaign and its progress.

Those who died made it possible for those who live
on the hill above to live in freedom.

1800 of the graves are unknown.
So sad.  So many tears.

41 People on our bus.  There was not a dry eye among them.  In a year, we will not remember the name of what city we visited or what we liked better Siena or Florence. But to our dying day, we will remember the visit to this cemetery.

So much is owed by so many to those brave young men.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.