A historic mission, the Nettuno – Salerno –Nettuno 620km by bike, was completed in recent days. The event, which was held last October 1st, was organized by Tony Lonero, a resident of Nettuno, and Jo-Ann Bary, Tony’s mother.
On the night of January 22, 1944, American and Allied troops landed on the beaches to begin the famous Anzio Landing. The American sector was located in Nettuno and the British troops landed in Anzio. After the landing, the United States government created the Sicily Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno where 7,845 American soldiers are buried and the chapel lists the names of 3,095 missing in action. Before the Anzio landing, the Americans landed in Salerno on September 3, 1943 which led to the famous Battle of Monte Cassino
Tony Lonero, a resident of Nettuno who decided to remember these two landings and the sacrifices made by the soldiers, with his bicycle.
The mission began with the Lowering of the American Flag ceremony at 5:00 p.m. local time inside the American Cemetery on Friday, October 1. They then cycled about 325km all night until arriving in Salerno around 10:00 a.m. on October 2. Here Tony was welcomed by the Mayor and Antonio Paolo, curator of the Salerno Landing Museum.
Tony donated an American flag to the city that will be placed in the museum with a bottle of sand from the beach of Nettuno where the landing took place.
Then Tony started his journey back to Nettuno passing through Monte Cassino (460km) where he spent the night.
