On April 28, 1945, the US Army’s 88th Infantry Division was continuing its push through northeastern Italy during the final weeks of World War II in Europe. Meri Mion, who lived on a family farm, turned thirteen on that day. Battles raged around her house the previous night, but American soldiers controlled the area in the morning.
Ms. Mion’s mother baked her a birthday cake and left it to cool on a window sill. The cake went missing and the likely culprits were some of the American soldiers.
As an apology, The US Army Garrison in Italy baked her a cake and offered it to her on Thursday. American soldiers sang her “Happy Birthday”. The Associated Press quotes Ms. Mion as saying that “Tomorrow, we will eat that dessert, with all my family remembering this wonderful day that I will never forget.”
Photo: US Army