


FRANKLIN COUNTY - The sounds of patriotic music could be heard as men and women in military uniforms marched through downtown Chambersburg Monday morning for the annual Veterans Day parade. 

The event, hosted by the Cumberland Valley 21-Day Retreat, featured local groups including the Girl Scouts, the Marine Corps League, the American Legion, the Chambersburg Area Senior High School Navy Junior ROTC and other veterans organizations. The high school marching band also marched in the parade and played the National Anthem before the start of the ceremony. 

Navy veteran Bruce Apgar was the main speaker at the parade. He addressed the crowd by first recognizing that Nov. 11 marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, but the United States was quickly drawn back to the front lines to fight Nazi Germany in World War II. 

MORE: Letters from battlefields reveal soldiers' stories of World War I

“Over the years, tens of millions of young Americans answered their nation’s call to serve," Apgar said, adding they left to "protect the liberties that we so often take for granted." 

Soldiers faced many hardships during the war, according to Apgar, such as sleeping on the cold hard ground, spending months or weeks taking cold showers or no shower at all and dealing with long deployments away from home that meant missed holidays, birthdays and other important events. 

“But for all, it looked like duty and it looked like honor," he continued. 

Apgar ended his speech by telling the audience he has been impressed with the level of support the county provides its veterans, and the overall "generally patriotic nature of the community."

He also expressed concern for America's political climate, and brought up the veterans who continued to serve their community after they came home. Apgar encouraged the audience to be "the quiet voice of reason," and told all the veterans in attendance there is still work to be done to help the country and future generations. 

Another parade and ceremony were also held later Monday by students at James Burd Elementary School in Shippensburg. The event included veterans, local police, the fire department and the mayor, with special performances by the district's bands. 

Area residents also packed the Historic Letterkenny Chapel Sunday afternoon for the Veteran's Day Memorial Service to hear Dr. Flavio Giovanni Conti give the Keynote address about World War II Italian prisoners of war in Chambersburg. 

The Italian man who flew from Rome for the event spent the past several years researching the subject. He wrote several articles and books, and co-authored "World War II Italian Prisoners of War in Chambersburg" with Gettysburg College Italian Studies professor, Alan Perry.

MORE: Franklin County's Vietnam War memorial gets a fitting new home

During his speech, Conti described what life was like for the men who found themselves as prisoners of war in Chambersburg, including more than 1,000 who were held in what is now the Letterkenny Army Depot. 

He said when they first arrived at these camps, the soldiers faced interrogation, had their fingerprints registered and were provided with a postcard to mail to their families to report they were still alive. 

However, they eventually found themselves receiving the same luxuries and amenities as the American soldiers. Conti said they were well fed with good quality food, given vaccines and other medical care, and could spend their time playing different sports, such as soccer, bowling, volleyball and basketball. 

“It was amazing," he told Public Opinion. "For many months, they were treated very, very well." 

The prisoners found ways to contribute to the depot, as well. Conti noted that the chapel for Sunday's service was the same one built by the soldiers in order to practice their religion. 

The building was constructed from stone and other material salvaged from abandoned farm buildings on the army depot, Public Opinion previously reported. The soldiers, predominantly Roman Catholic, had been holding religious services in a barracks, but wanted their own chapel. Over the years, other religions denominations have used the chapel, and it is currently listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. 

In addition, the audience heard some of the Italian men's individual stories. Among them, Conti talked about Elio De Angelis who was a prisoner of war at Letterkenny. During his time in Franklin County, the then 25-year-old met and fell in love with then 16-year-old Betty Jane Gilbert, despite already being married.  

Gilbert became pregnant about the same time Angelis was sent back to Italy in September 1945. The two broke off contact with each other after he wrote and told her he cared for her, but was already married. Angelis later had another child with his wife just a few months after Gilbert gave birth. 

MORE: An ocean apart for 70 years, sons of Italian POW meet for first time

The speech ended with Conti sharing some thoughts from the Italian soldiers, and detailing what happened to several of them after the war ended. He said some were sent back to Italy, but then chose to return to America. 

Conti told Public Opinion this is a topic that had never really been studied, compared to Italian prisoners of war in Germany and Russia. He said it's important to learn more about it, not only to hear the soldiers' stories, but to also share more information with the families who might not know what happened. 

"This is a special day (Veterans Day) for the Americans, but also for the Italians," Conti said, adding that these men were also soldiers who served. 

Overall, he wanted to convey to the audience that "war is a crazy, crazy thing" that affects the men, women and families involved. He also said it's "important to recognize the enemy as a human being." 

The memorial service featured scripture readings, music from organist Freda Doran and posting of the colors by the Chambersburg Area Senior High School Navy Junior ROTC Cadet Color Guard. Rev. Renata Moseley Harper led the call to worship, prayer for veterans and the benediction. Remarks were also given by Col. Paul Cullinane, chapel service program director, and LTC Daniel Cody, operations officer at the depot. 


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