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Apo address somewhere in Italy 1942

It was a crisp day October 27th 1942 
that's when my pop set out for WW11
right after my grandmother Nona
gave birth to my dad orders arrived 
his job assignment was to protect the 
priest arch bishops and future Pope's 

being captured and killed for their 
religious belief safety guarded in 
Saint Sebastian church in Rome 
the actual sight where Saint Sebastian 
was arrowed to death I adore my military 
family my husband saved Pow's during Vietnam

two uncles served and now my granddaughter 
the history of thee armed forces within my 
family is quite a treasure my pop protected 
Pope Benedict and stood side by side 
Pope Saint John XX111 1944 during 
the Victory after liberating Italy he would 

often shed tears about the mafia in America
with Al Capone how they actually portrayed 
all Italians as criminals left a sore spot for my 
own great grandmother born Mason Vicentino 
Italy all of pop's letter from war read somewhere 
in Italy Apo New York my Pop died at 97 years 

old clutching this photo of Arch bishop Pope 
Saint John XX111 he made me swore on his 
death bed to protect it from the mafia hoodlums 
so it would stay in the hands of the Vatican 
sadly Mafia hoods broke into my home trying 
to retrieve the photo without success I'd copied 

it several times sharing with the Knights of Columbus 
the Abby of Monks the Franciscan sisters Arch Bishop 
most Reverend Cardinal Francis George of Chicago  
of course storing the original for safe keeping 
and Honor for the sake of his sorrowful passion 
over Saint Peters Square Di Vatican in Rome 
my Italian heritage Somewhere in Italy I'm home

Copyright © Yolanda Nicholsen

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