80th Anniversary of the World War II Invasion of Europe draws thousands to Sicily

HERSHEY, Pa. - July 5, 2023 - PRLog -- American mission to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of the Allied landings in Sicily

US officials and historians will assemble in Catania later this week to participate in events across Sicily that will commemorate the 80^th anniversary of the Allied landings on the island at a turning point of World War II.

US Consul General Naples Tracy Roberts Pounds will deliver a statement on behalf of the US to the VIP opening session of The Sicily Peace, Security & Prosperity Conference in Catania which has been organized in partnership with the city's Museo Storico dello Sbarco in Sicilia 1943.

Others traveling to Sicily to speak at the conference include military historian Dr. John Curatola of The National WWII Museum in New Orleans. He will be joined by Waymand Brothers, an expert in the history of the African-American Tuskegee pilots who served in Sicily in 1943.

Secretary Charles Djou of the American Battle Monuments Commission which manages US war cemeteries across the world will speak to the conference about the work of the commission and its vision for the future.

General Counsel for the National Italian American Foundation Joe Lonardo will highlight the work of the foundation, the largest diaspora Italian organization in the world with 200,000 members. The foundation worked with film actor and director Joe Mantegna to produce a video message of support for the conference that was released last month.

Delegates at the conference will include Admiral Stuart Munsch, Commander of US Naval Forces in Europe and Africa and Commander of the Allied Joint Forces Command, Naples.

A special welcome is expected for Ms Helen Patton, granddaughter of General George Patton who commanded US ground forces in Sicily in 1943.

The conference will be followed by other events that will commemorate America's role in Sicily in 1943 which marked the start of the grueling Italian campaign. They include a landing beach event at Gela where Patton came ashore on the morning of 10 July 1943 and a remembrance event at the 82^nd Airborne Memorial at Ponte Dirillo near the town.

"The commemorations of the 80th anniversary of the Sicily landings will be among the biggest ever organized on the island and this is evidence that the experiences of all sides in 1943 have not been forgotten," says the conference's US organizing partner Jay Wertz. "I am delighted that I will be there and will be joined so many people coming from America for the conference and other events in Sicily this July."