Franklin County Visitors Bureau announces the world premiere of
the World War II story of Italian POWs, held at Letterkenny Depot.
It is an amazing story of war, repatriation, and peace.
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa., Aug. 27,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Franklin County Visitors
Bureau is excited to highlight the world premiere of "Fedeltà .
Soldier. Prisoner," a documentary by Stephen Mancini relating the experiences of
Italian Prisoners of War, kept at Letterkenny Army Depot in
Chambersburg, PA, during World War
II. The Franklin County Historic Letterkenny Chapel Committee is
pleased to invite the public to a free showing at the Capitol
Theatre in downtown Chambersburg
on September 6, 7 PM to 8:30 PM.
The documentary chronicles an inspirational
story of men at war, their capture, their repatriations, and their
discovery of friendship in southcentral Pennsylvania.
The documentary chronicles an inspirational story of men at war,
their capture, their repatriations, and their discovery of
friendship in southcentral Pennsylvania. These men were captured as
prisoners of war and then swore allegiance to America. Letterkenny
Depot housed 1250 of these men in a service unit, later formed as
the 321st Quartermaster Battalion. They spent seventeen months at
Letterkenny Depot until returning to Italy in October
1945 after an international agreement was reached. The
documentary uses original archival documents and footage from the
US Army, the families, and others associated with Italian Service
Units to tell their story.
Since 2015, as the Franklin County Historic Letterkenny Chapel
Committee formed and the Franklin
County 11/30 Memorial & Veterans Trail came into being,
the connection to the history of the Italian POWs and their
families grew. In addition to the premiere of the documentary, the
Franklin County Visitors Bureau is showcasing the Letterkenny
Italian POW story in the lobby of the 11/30 Visitors Center. The
exhibit opens September 6 and is
available to view until November 11,
2024.
Preview the trailer here.
The History
Before America entered World War II, the U.S. military sought
locations for ordinance depots to maintain, store, and issue
weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, equipment, and other
military-needed materials. Letterkenny Township in Franklin County PA was selected because of its
excellent location along the Atlantic seaboard and its closeness to
Washington DC. The depot required
thousands of acres of farmland and displaced about 1000 of
Franklin County's 70,000
residents. Any discontentment about the acquisition ceased after
the December 7, 1941 strike on
Pearl Harbor. Franklin County residents wholeheartedly
supported the depot. Less than a years later, the depot was an
active part of America's participation in the Ally effort.
By September 1943, Italy signed an armistice with the Allies, and
Italian POWs agreed to sign an allegiance to the United States, In May 1944, 1250 repatriated Italian soldiers came
to Letterkenny Depot. They formed the 321st Quartermaster
Battalion, helping to order, stock, and ship military supplies and
equipment to support the Ally efforts in the Pacific and
Europe.
These men missed their homes and loved ones. It was a difficult
time. They turned to their faith to guide them, seeking out the
counsel of clergy, who wisely suggested channeling the loneliness
into beneficial tasks. Out of a melancholy and somber time when war
encircled the world and thousands of miles separated the Italian
service men from their families, a good and lasting accomplishment
emerged. The repatriated soldiers helped to build the depot and a
chapel. By using the materials from the farmhouses, barns, and
other structures, the men of the ISU incorporated the elements of
their homeland into the chapel and created a lasting artifact of a
significant time in American and world history.
The Letterkenny Chapel is a prime representation of Italianate
architecture with the characteristic square tower, quoined
brickwork, and curved arches above the windows and doors. Today, it
is maintained by the United Churches of Chambersburg and is adjoined by the Franklin
County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park. The chapel and park are the
launching point of the Franklin County Military Trail of
History.
In 1945, Letterkenny Chapel was dedicated by the Pope's
Ambassador to the United States to
commemorate peace and reconciliation between Italy and the United
States. For more than 35 years, it served as a military
chapel for Letterkenny Army Depot. Today, the historic chapel
serves as an ecumenical, interfaith and multicultural meeting place
of fellowship and worship.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau invites all to explore
Franklin County PA and enjoy
trails of history, arts and architecture, recreation, natural
beauty, fresh foods, and the warm hospitality of communities like
Chambersburg, Greencastle, Mercersburg, Shippensburg, and Waynesboro. Franklin
County PA is located just north of the Mason Dixon Line and
is an easy drive from Washington
DC, Philadelphia, and
Pittsburgh. Discover more; plan a
visit soon at ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com or by contacting
866.646.8060.
Media Contact
Janet Pollard, Franklin County
Visitors Bureau, 7175522977, jpollard@explorefranklincountypa.com,
www.ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com
View original content to download
multimedia:https://www.prweb.com/releases/franklin-county-visitors-bureau-announces-world-premiere-of-fedelta-soldier-prisoner-a-story-of-italian-prisoners-of-world-war-ii-held-at-letterkenny-depot-302231081.html
SOURCE Franklin County Visitors Bureau