FORT BENNING, Ga., (Nov.18 2015) -- Members of the Fort Benning community gathered at the Fort Benning cemetery Nov. 16 for the annual German-Italian Memorial Day ceremony.
The ceremony is held with full military honors to remember the 44 German and seven Italian soldiers buried at Fort Benning. All served in World War II and became prisoners of war after they were captured by the Allies between 1943 and 1946. Most of them died of accidental or natural causes while prisoners either in Missouri, South Carolina or Georgia POW camps.
Thomas Wulfing, deputy consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Southeastern United States, said fallen Soldiers made sacrifices for many freedoms that exist today.
"The world is never totally a peaceful place, but despite the various conflicts, is a better world than the world we had years ago," he said.
Wulfing also took a moment to comment on the recent attacks in Paris, and said that unity is now more crucial than ever when democracy and our way of life is once again threatened.
Lt. Col. Massimiliano Bar, Italian liaison officer to the Maneuver Center of Excellence, also commented on the Paris attacks, saying "The attack was not just on France, but on all of humanity and the universal values that we share."
"Our lives are under the sign of hope of reconciliation between people and nations, and our responsibility is to promote peace among people at home and worldwide," Bar said. "May God give us the necessary strength to continue to do our profession as soldiers and give comfort to our families. May God bless our fallen soldiers, our families and nations."
The ceremony concluded with a wreath laying, playing of Taps and the U.S., German and Italian national anthems.
To see video coverage of the event, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwiURY3s4gQ
For more photos, visit www.fortbenningphotos.com/Ceremonies-and-Events/Off-Post-Events/2015-Community-Events/2015-11-16-German-and-Italian/i-KQVTd9K.
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