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LIBERATION OF ITALY 60TH ANNIVERSARY CRUISE ABOARD SEABOURN LEGEND REMEMBERS WWII'S “FORGOTTEN CAMPAIGN”
The National D-Day Museum Brings Together Veterans and Leading Historians for Last Chance Opportunity Tour to Commemorate End of WWII in Europe
NEW ORLEANS – March 18, 2005 – The young Americans who helped destroy the fascist regime during WWII's “Forgotten Campaign” in Italy are the focus of a once-in-a-lifetime, eight-day, seven-night cruise and tour aboard the luxury cruise ship Seabourn Legend , departing Monte Carlo, October 16, 2005. Developed and sponsored by The National D-Day Museum, “ America 's National World War II Museum,” the program assembles leading American and military history scholars, historians, veterans and members of The National D-Day Museum to accompany participants throughout the cruise and during land excursions.
“Looking back more than 60 years, the ‘soft underbelly of Europe', as Churchill called Italy , was anything but,” notes National D-Day Museum CEO and President Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller.
“Indeed, it was a pivotal point in the war that laid the groundwork for the D-Day invasion,” he explains. “The battle in Italy , often called the ‘Forgotten Campaign,' became a proving ground for the Allies' capabilities on sea, land and air. The amphibious landings with Higgins craft on Italian beaches, the German infantry troops whom Hitler redirected to Italy , and the bombing of Romanian oilfields that fueled the German forces each provided a crucial element that prepared the Allies for the Normandy beach invasion, and 11 months later, the final victory in Europe 60 years ago.”
The tour represents one of the last opportunities to hear the personal recollections from those who served in World War II.
“Since today's veterans are in their 80s and 90s, this tour is not only truly unique, but also a once-in-a lifetime, never-to-be-duplicated experience,” says George McGovern, a B-24 Liberator Pilot, a Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient, former U.S. Senator, Congressman, U.S. Ambassador in Rome, and tour participant.
Among the other tour participants are:
• Joe Persico, historian, biographer and best-selling author
• Ray and Irvin Wells, brothers and Italian Campaign veterans of the 36th Infantry Division
• Donald L. Miller, American History professor and television commentator
• Douglas Porch, military history professor and scholar
• Robert Katz, author, journalist and a visiting professor at the University of California
• Peter Tompkins, WWII War Correspondent and OSS Secret Agent in Italy
• Dr. Gordon H. “Nick” Mueller, CEO and President of The National D-Day Museum
• Martin K.A. Morgan, research historian at The National D-Day Museum
• Hugh Ambrose, historical consultant and former Vice President, The National D-Day Museum
Victory in Italy Tour Itinerary
The tour begins in Monte Carlo with an overnight cruise on the Ligurian Sea to the Port of Livorno , where the Seabourn Legend follows the path of the Allied ships through the Tyrrhenian Sea , along the breathtaking Italian coastline. Included in the tour are several on-land excursions to key points along the battle zone: the ruins of San Pietro, the haunting beauty of the Monte Cassino and the seaside resorts of Anzio and Nettuno—the backdrop for the final Allied march on Rome . There will be a brief stop and special ceremony at the American Military Cemetery , where 7,861 Americans are buried. The tour ends in Rome , at which point guests may continue on a two-day post cruise with guest historian Robert Katz and former OSS Secret Agent Peter Tompkins, who will explore Fascist Italy and the partisan struggle for liberation in Rome .
The tour also offers opportunities to explore Italy 's food, wine and art. Cultural excursions include: a day exploring Florence —the home of the Renaissance, a trip to the wine-making Chianti countryside and a luxury motor coach tour along the Amalfi Coast with stops in Ravello, Amalfi and the romantic town of Positano . In addition to the tour and post-tour programs, participants can also discover Nice and Monte Carlo with a
two-day pre-tour package.
Unlike other cruises, this all-inclusive tour package begins at $7,990 per person, double occupancy. It includes all accommodations, land excursions, on-land touring aboard private air-conditioned luxury motor coach, all museum and entrance fees, full-time historians and logistical support, presentations by guest speakers, historians and veterans, as well as all meals and beverages and many on-board amenities. The cruise package includes a tax-deductible donation to the Museum, a not-for-profit organization with a mission to celebrate the American spirit, the teamwork, optimism, courage and sacrifice of those who served and won World War II and to promote the exploration and expression of these values by future generations.
About The National D-Day Museum
Congress officially designated The National D-Day Museum in New Orleans as “ America 's National World War II Museum” on September 25, 2003. The resolution expressed the United States Government's support for the New Orleans Museum in continuing preservation and interpretation of artifacts, documents and history as well as the education of American people about experience in combat and on the home front during the World War II years.
Last year, The National D-Day Museum launched its national capital campaign that will triple the size of the existing Museum over the next five to seven years. The expansion will feature exhibits that cover all of the theaters and service branches of World War II and include a national center for research on the War. The Museum offers numerous opportunities to learn more about World War II, including a series of Victory in Europe Tours throughout 2005. A portion of proceeds from the tours benefits the capital campaign. Further details about each tour as well as special events and exhibits that commemorate the end of World War II are available online at www.ddaymuseum.org.
For more information about The National D-Day Museum and the Victory in Europe Tour series, visit the web site at www.ddaymuseum.org , call: 1-877-813-3329,
x400 or contact travel@ddaymuseum.org .
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Editor's Note: Interviews with veterans and historians, photos and suggested reading available upon request.
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