Ve Day In Italy

I remember it as if were yesterday VE Day...well, not exactly but, close enough for me The actual surrender of Italy May 2, 1945....but the damn Americans Always the Americans wanted May 8 So, it's May 8th, but I'll always remember the second We were in Milan...I love Milan Hitler was dead, Mussolini was dead I was alive, and in Milan Rumours were out that the war in Europe was almost done Nobody had told the Gerry's that though Word came from Lubeck that they'd surrendered I was twenty one years old, going on 50 War ages you...and not in a good way I was in 6th Airborne and ready to go back When the word came down I remember kissing the waitress at our cafe I kissed her hard, and with as much passion as a 21 yr. old can have I didn't want to let her go It was over I kissed her for myself, and everyone in Milan I kissed her for my folks in Clapham I kissed her for her folks, wherever they were I kissed her because we were free, they were free I kissed her for my Uncle, who we lost early in 1941 Lost him during the blitz in London England lost 430 people, we lost Uncle Cyril That was enough, I was signing up Now, it was over and I was moving on I kissed her for everyone still waiting for the news But, most of all, I kissed her for Leslie Testro, Rfn (18yrs) Lance Cpl Thomas Wray (22 yrs), Lt. Dennis Edmonds (21 yrs) and all the others attached to 6th Airborne Who wouldn't know it was Victory in Italy They were lost, not forgotten, never forgotten Forever in our minds, our roll of honour We celebrate them annualy Few of us left now, but, those that are go back to Italy every two or three years back to Milan, and we toast them all My waitress, Rosa Testrini She was there as well, every year Until five years back, we lost her Now we toast her as well We all have our honour roll She was on mine I found her again in 1950 We were on our second trip back She met my wife, and I her husband He's still there, and we talk My Italian is better than his English But, we talk as well as we can I miss her, and the others But that day, that glorious day in May I've never kissed like that since And my wife knows it Sometimes she reminds me... I laugh, and remind her.... What that day means...if it hadn't happened We may not be kissing now so, she'll never get that kiss Only Rosa Rest In Peace my waitress