V FOR VICTORY !

Ziggy was wounded in France suffering from shrapnel wounds and burns on both ankles.  The scarring and pain would stay with him he whole life. Who knows what memories were also embedded in his mind: he never spoke of them.  He had that in common with

 many veterans of that global catastrophe.

Finally, the war in Europe ended.  Paris was liberated and Ziggy was there with his unit.  This photograph is the inspiration for this entire series of blog posts.  It is incredible.  I wish I could enlarge it more.  Ziggy is in the bottom row, fifth from the right.  He wears a pensive expression. Many of the faces we see here are as serious and thoughtful as he, perhaps reflecting
on the heavy cost paid to get to this moment.

The war ended in Europe in 1945.  In 1946, Ziggy and Alveda were married in Taunton at St. Anthony's Church.  They could now start their new life together and would not be apart again until they each passed on and were united for eternity.

  

We are so very fortunate to have been able to piece together this story.  As we know, we are losing WWII veterans rapidly each day, and often their stories are lost with them.  It is an honor to consign this one to where it will not be forgotten. 

 Thank you, Aunt Alveda and Uncle Ziggy, for this history and personal memory trip.  I hope that we have done it justice.

A deep appreciation goes out out to my cousin Shelley, their daughter, and to
my late cousin, her brother Barry for keeping this collection safe.

  Thank you, Shelley, you have done your family proud!

                                                                      .................
 


Postscript: next post will finish the Camp Myles Standish saga and acknowledge my other sources.