The Sicily Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno
honoring the fallen
DAY TRIP FROM ROME at Sicily Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno:
This Cemetery honors those who lost their lives in the WWII battles. From landing operation quiet and beautiful, there is a chapel with its ceiling decorated with the stars as they would have appeared on the night on 22nd January 1944, when started “Operation shinge, codename of the battles of Anzio.
The Italian govern donated the land after the war but it is American soil today, maintained by the American Battle Monument Commission who commemorates the sacrifice of US Armed Forces Overseas. https://www.usa.gov/federal-agencies/american-battle-monuments-commission
After WW2 There were temporary cemeteries but each American family had to choice if their dear ones had to be buried in Italy or repatriated.
Over 30% of the families decided that they would be buried in my country. The fallen soldiers from Sicily to Rome are buried in Nettuno . There is also an other cemetery in Florence for the Americans who died in the second phase of the Italians campaign.
A few years ago I visited the American cemetery in Normandy and I was amazed how many Americans came from Paris to honour the fallen. They know about Normandy but not about the Italian campaign of WW2
The purpose of this article is to make you aware that, close to Rome, there is a corner of America in Italy, where thousands of your fellow citizens fought and died in WW2. They are honoured here at the Sicily Rome American cemetery in Nettuno.
7861 American soldiers are buried, among them 4 women, over 400 of them are unknown and 3095 names missing in action whose names are listed in the Cemtery’s chapel.
When you arrive you will have the vision of thousands of marble white crosses and Jewish stars of David set in beautiful green meadows and umbrella pine trees.
When you arrive looking the white crosses, they look like fleurs-de-lis but when you get closer it seems like a military parade. There is no date of death on the grave so you don’t actually know the age of the soldier as the death frozen all them at the same time. They are the American soldiers who died for the freedom of their country. They shared the same fears, the same destiny, they are buried one next the other, they are all brothers in arms. When some members of their family come from the distant America to visit them they stop being a soldier to become a father, a grandfather, a brother or an uncle. It is only for a short moment as when the party leaves they become again the American soldier who gave his life for yours and our freedom. Each one of them earned our freedom.
There is a chapel where are listed over 3000 Americans missing in action, in the battles from Sicily to Rome, whose bodies sleeps in unknown graves. You can visit also a room with maps of the Italian campaign, beautifully painted on the wall.
Nettuno is very well connected with trains from Roma Termini. It takes only one hour and you can walk to the cemetery from the train station. There are several trains and the ticket is unexpensive. If you email me I will give you all the required information. Trust me it is a sober experience and emotional day to come here.
Today, Nettuno is a charming seaside resort and we did not forget the Americans who died for our freedom. Each one of them earned our and your freedom. They are honored at the Sicily Rome American cemetery of Nettuno.
If you want to learn about the battles of Anzio please visit my website htpp://www.anziotours.com and book a tour. You will learn more than you think about the American heroes of WW2, a forgotten campaign by many but not by all. We will remember them, their sacrifice, their deeds won’t be forgotten and will be passed through to the next generations and to those who will come to visit and pay respect to them.
“The war in France is our grand finale, but the victory here is the result of all other victories that went before. It is the result of Russia, and the western deserts, the bombings and the blocking of the sea. It is the result of Tunisia, and Sicily and Italy; we MUST never forget or belittle those campaigns.
Ernie Pyle, Brave Men, page 492.
