A birthday cake is one item that many consider essential when it comes to celebrating their big day.
Unfortunately, Meri Mion never got to enjoy the delicious cake her mother made for her 13th birthday because it’s believed U.S. soldiers stole the cake when they marched through her hometown of San Pietro in Gù, Italy in 1945.
So, to make it up to her, soldiers from U.S. Army Garrison Italy presented Meri with a replacement cake for her 90th birthday.
On April 28, the City of Vicenza and soldiers from U.S. Army Garrison Italy held an event to remember when U.S. soldiers arrived in the Italian city in 1945 during World War II.
According to a post on social media, the event was to recognize the 77th anniversary of the soldiers’ arrival and honor the decades of friendship that followed.
But when American troops arrived in Vicenza in 1945, not everyone was happy.
On the night of the 28th, Meri and her mother hid in the attic of their farm. German soldiers, who were retreating, had fired near their house and left the soon-to-be teenager frightened for years to come.
The next morning – her 13th birthday – she woke up to American troops in her village and a freshly baked birthday cake sitting on the window sill.
“Her happiness turned into disappointment later when the resourceful American Soldiers made off with her birthday cake,” Col. Matthew Gomlak, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Italy, said.
Although nearly eight decades late, the U.S. Army made it up to Meri when they presented her with a birthday cake for her 90th birthday during their ceremony to remember the 77th anniversary of American troops arriving in Vicenza.
Many U.S. and Italian officials attended the ceremony and sang “Happy Birthday” to an emotional Meri.
“Tomorrow, we will eat that dessert with all my family remembering this wonderful day that I will never forget” she said.
To remember such a thing from so long ago, what a sweet gesture! Happy 90th birthday, Meri!
Please share this on Facebook, and wish Meri a happy birthday.
