Joe:

Just had the chance to view your site. Beautiful work. Really. Do you ever take on work? Let's say if someone had an image in mind, or maybe from a photo? Curious.

Happy Trails to you...

Joe: Just sent you an email with Bob's email address so you can get in touch with his father-in-law. Let me know when you get a chance to talk to him. Good luck.

Marion and Joe, I'm glad my research and photos have resulted in a US serviceman who was there in Sherborne at the time of the mine tradgedy adding to my knowledge. Thank you Joe, your comrades have not and will not be forgotten.

Colin.

Marion and Colin:

Thank you for your messages. I often wonder and ponder on fate and why it is that some of us returned and others lie in their graves, many of them better men than I am. All I can say is that they have earned their eternal rest so that we could continue with our lives. The important thing to consider is whether or not we have taken that gift of long life and made this a better world or did we blow this opportunity and use these added years to the detriment of society.

Now, in the sunset of my years, I often meditate on this and I am making every effort to live the golden rule and try consciously not to hurt anyone no matter how great the provocation and always remember to forgive those who hurt me. That is the essence of our Judeo-Christian heritage. I can see my mortality and I know that, before long, I will be judged by my Creator for what I have done with this gift of life which He has given me.

My daily prayers are for all those facing death through disease, war and natural disasters and a special prayer for peace among families and the nations of the world.

Joe

Joe what a beautiful sentiment. Love your words. They ring so true.

Even though I may not be as old as you and our other dear vets, I am NOT a spring chicken anymore myself, and one can't help but to think upon these matters. When we were 18, we thought we were immortal and we'd always have enough time to make things right. Now we know that we have a finite amount of time on this earth and I for one am trying to make the world a better place before I leave her behind...

Having this forum has shown me so many wonderful things and has introduced to countless nice people including yourself. I am grateful for that.

Can't wait to hear more and once again I am so glad you decided to share your history with us. God bless all those boys who made way for our freedoms. Who knows why things work the way they do?

Bob Christianson:

I have been trying to get in touch with you since you wrote that your father in law was in Company "A" of the 294th Combat Engineers. I was in Company "B" and if you would read elsewhere in this Forum you will see an extended story of what happened on March 20, 1944 on the Digby Estate in Sherborne.

Would you please have him contact me at: jaizzillo@earthlink.net or at (239) 262-2778.

Hello Mr. Izzillo. Thank you for sharing with us here on the forum.

I just visited your website and I must say MARVELOUS work!!!

Brooke

Brooke and Marion:

Thanks for your comments on my paintings. They are my therapy and I am inspired by the comments of the people who enjoy looking at them. They are also a part of my testament which I am leaving with my descendants. I have not sold many and I think that it is due to the high prices I place on them so that I can retain them. I think that I am doomed to be like so many other artists who only became famous after they died.

I do want to alert you to one thing. I have done a portrait of a Mohawk girl, Kateri Tekakwitha, who died on April 17, 1680 and who is now Blessed and on her way to canonization in the Catholic Church. It is the first portrait I ever painted and I did it as a gift to her for saving my life while suffering with an incurable disease. It is a long story, but my classmate at Fordham University, Tom Fleming, who has written over 40 books and is one of the leading historians in this country, has written an article about Kateri and me for GUIDEPOSTS magazine. The final draft has gone to the Editor and we are waiting to hear from him. This magazine has a circulation of 6 million and is available by subscription only. I am sure that libraries carry it.

It is hoped that it will be published soon and then many more millions will know about Kateri and her inspiring, short life, since she died at the age of 24. We also hope that this publicity will help in bringing about her canonization.

I will now try to attach a photo of her portrait. Those of you who have gone on my web-site have seen it already.

Joe

That is just wonderful. I am sure it will get published. Will look forward to seeing the story, your beautiful painting and the publication.

Maybe 2006 is the year for both you and I!

Congrats!

Marion, Colin and Brooke:

I had a long talk today with Harold Ritzer, Bob's son in law and we shared many memories. As you know, he was in Company "C" of the 294th and I was in Company "B" and the 29 men who were killed were in Company "C". Harold was nearby and so was I and I saw the horrible carnage and parts of bodies scattered through the trees. All that was left of the truck which was near the exploded mines was bits of steel from the undercarriage.

I have invited Harold to come down and visit with me and he hopes that he can do it. We compared ages, and I am a month older than he is, so he is relatively young.

We both thanked God just for being here when so many of our G.I.'s never made it home except in a casket. They never had a chance to go on to productive lives and enjoy a family.

Joe

Joe:

So glad to hear that you have been in touch with Harold. Isn't the Internet such a very wonderful thing at times? I am so happy that I was able to be the conduit for the two of you.

Hope all is okay on your end. Haven't heard from you in a while, so am always concerned when I don't hear from one of "my vets".

Hugs,

M

Hi all!

Re: Kateri Tekakwitha:

We have just had word that GUIDEPOSTS will not publish the article by Tom Fleming. They feel that it is "too Catholic".

The magazine was founded by Norman Vincent Peale, the great Protestant orator and writer and it shocks me that there is still some anti-Catholic sentiment among our Protestant brethren. I wonder what Rev. Peale would have said?

At any rate, we are going to try to get it published in Readers Digest or some other publication so that many more people around the world will know Kateri's story. It deserves to be told!

Joe

Greetings,

My name is Kenneth Harrington McKeever. My late dad, Kenneth Francis McKeever, had stories about his unit and I wish he had written them all down. My mom said he never talked about the war until the late 50's early 60's. Later he wanted to tell us as much as possible and he told my girls some of the stories for their class projects. Hope I can learn more of his service and the service of his fellow soldiers. He was a member of the 294th and part of the unit killed in England in the mine clearing accident. They were all from Jersey City and they went in as a group through Fort Dix and all the rest of their training. Fortunately for my dad, and for us, he was not there at the time of the accident. He survived because he was picked to drive one of the officers that day. He and the officer arrived at the mess tent just before the explosion. He told us they were on the scene in seconds and had to help pick up his friends. I can only imagine the horror. That day was so vivid in his memory that he even remembered that he had pork chops for his meal. There is a memorial in Jersey City with the names of the men killed on that day. I'm thankful for their sacrifice and for my dads Guardian Angel who worked overtime that day and on many others.

Hello Mr. Izzillo. Thank you for sharing with us here on the forum.

 

I just visited your website and I must say MARVELOUS work!!!

 

Brooke

Greetings Mr. Izzillo. I just posted a reply below regarding the accident that happened in England. We all owe that generation and today's generation of heros so much. I have seen your web page and the paintings are fantastic. On a side note, my wife and daughters are descendents of Nicolas Arendanki, Chief of the Huron of Georgian Bay. His village of Arenda was called the "village of believers" and they were martyrs. His wife and infant daughter were part of the few hundred Wendat who survived and kept the faith despite continuous hardship. I would love to share their story and questions I have his cause. But that is for another forum