The first was a Unit Plaque installed in the building adjacent to the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery on October 18, 1986. One hundred and thirty members, associates and guests of the Anzio Beachhead Veterans of World War II were in attendance for the ceremony.
If you are in that area you may wish to visit this piece of memorabilia in honor of our companions who gave their all at Anzio.
In 1989 a stone was placed in front of the restored "Anzio Annie" at the United States Army Ordinance Museum at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen Maryland. This has since been relocated to Fort Lee Virginia.
On May 26, 2006, while the USS Anzio was in the port of New York, a monument dedicated to all who serve on the Anzio beachhead was unveiled on the pier with the USS Anzio in the background.
The dedication was the culmination of a personal project of beachhead veteran Jim Luzzi (1st Armored Div.) It took Jim almost five years to obtain the necessary funding for this monument, but today his dream became a reality. It is Jim's intention to have this monument placed in Battery Park, one block from the World Trade Center.
The ceremony was attented by approximately 100 veterans and family members, city officials and the Mayor of Anzio, Candido De Angelis. After the ceremony, a reception was held aboard the USS ANZIO.
 THIS MEMORIAL HONORS AMERICAN AND ALLIED FORCESWHO FOUGHT ON ANZIO BEACHHEAD, ITALY JANUARY 22 - MAY 25, 1944 ON THE ANZIO BEACHHEAD 20 MILES SOUTH OF ROME, INTENDING TO ENCIRCLE THE ENEMY, CUT OFF ITS SUPPLIES AND REDUCE ITS DEFENSES EFFECTIVELY ALLOWING THE ALLIED DRIVE NORTHWARD FROM CASSINO TO ROME. FOR 124 DAYS ON THIS 15 BY 6 MILE FLAT BEACHHEAD OUR TROOPS WERE AFFORDED NO TACTICAL COVER FROM CONTINUOUS ARTILLERY FIRE FROM THE OUTNUMBERED ENEMY FORCES POSITIONED IN THE APENNINE HIGHGROUNDS ABOVE THEM. MORE THAN 67,000 ALLIED TROOPS WERE KILLED, WOUNDED OR CAPTURED DURING THE BLOODY BATTLE AND ENEMY CASUALTIES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000. ON MAY 25, 1944, ALTHOUGH STILL SURROUNDED AND OUT NUMBERED, AND EXHAUSTED FROM THEIR FOUR MONTH-LONG FIGHT, OUR VALIENT FORCES BOLDLY ADVANCED, BREAKING OUT OF THE BEACHHEAD, AND ROLLED UP THE GUSTAV LINE. THEY LIBERATED ROME ON JUNE 4, 1944. MAY THEIR SACRIFICES AND ACTS OF BRAVERY BE REMEMBERED ALWAYS. DEDICATED 2005 |
The Mayor of Anzio's Speech at the |
Firstly, in the name of the City of Anzio, I'd like to thank all the people who allowed me to be here with you today, testifying the feelings of esteem and friendship which link us together with the United States of America.
Anzio won't forget. Today, it is a sunny resort of about 50.000 inhabitants, 50 Kms. Far from Rome, it is steadily growing up thanks to a vital past. Anzio is still looking at the future with the same enthusiasm of the Post- war years.
On July 22, 2007, a second Anzio monument was dedicated at the Pouch Boy Scout Camp on Staten Island, NY. Many veterans and community officials attended, including members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, State Senator Andrew Lanza, Councilman Gentile, Capt. Robert Obrien, the USCG Commander of Ft. Wadsworth.
James Luzzi, (1st Armored Division) once again, was successful in obtaining the funds necessary for the construction of this monument.