With the help of the mayor of San
Miniato, a former American World War II veteran is set to have a
remarkable reunion with a group of children he photographed
while taking part in the Italy campaign.
Edward Roethel, who is now in his 90s, made an appeal to make
contact with eight children he snapped while in the Tuscan town
in 1945.
After being contracted by Holly Rotondi of the Friends of the
National World War II Memorial, San Miniato Mayor Simone
Giglioli amplified the appeal and five of the eight have been
tracked down.
On Thursday they will get back together in a video call, with a
former English teacher acting as the interpreter.
The 'kids' who recognised themselves are a 79-year-old retired
art lecturer who lives in Florence, Roberto Santini, siblings
Giovanni and Anna Maria Pretini aged 82 and 84, Mara Ciarini
Agnesi, an 83-year-old retired teacher and Maria Brondi, 80, who
now resides in Livorno.
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