On April 28, 1945, US troops from the 88th Infantry Division fought against German troops in the northeastern Italian city. Mion was just a teenager when she moved to the village of San Pietro. As German soldiers opened fire near her farm, she hid with her mother in the attic. When she woke up the next morning, the American soldiers had taken the freshly baked birthday cake that her mother had left on the window sill. At least 19 American soldiers were killed or wounded during the battle, and several American tanks disappeared. Locals in Vicenza then formed ties with the U.S. military, greeting the soldiers with bread and wine.
‘I will never forget’
Military personnel work with the U.S. National Archives to extract vintage combat footage and images from the battles in the city.
The video, which was presented at the ceremony, also records the friendship between the US military and the people of Vicenza after the fighting slowed down.
“This warm welcome from the people of Vicenza continues to this day,” said Gomlak, commander of the U.S. military in Italy.
Speaking about Mion’s reaction to the theft of her gate after the initial joy of her birthday, she added: “Her happiness turned to disappointment later, when the resourceful American soldiers left with her birthday cake.”
“It makes me feel great to give her the cake,” said Wallis, a military police officer.
Mion wiped the tears from her eyes as hundreds of spectators, including American and Italian soldiers, veterans, police and locals, watched the emotional exchange.
“Tomorrow, we will eat this dessert with my whole family remembering this wonderful day that I will never forget,” Mion said.
