Meri Mion turned 13 on April 29, 1945. During the days leading up to her 13th birthday, Allied forces were pushing back the Germans, and Meri was hiding with her mother in the attic of their farm near Vicenza, Italy.
But when the sounds of the fighting stopped and word came that the Americans were close by, Mion's mother decided to bake a birthday cake for her daughter and set it in the window to cool.
Well, if you've ever met a young soldier, it should be no surprise what happened next. Those hungry boys saw that cake and probably reasoned it was the least the Italians could do for them after all they'd been through.
Mion, however, was understandably disappointed to find that her birthday cake was missing.
Now, 77 years later on her 90th birthday (April 29), the U.S. Army has made it up to her.
Sgt. Peter Wallis of Washington, who is serving with the U.S. Army Garrison Italy, presented the cake to Mion in Vicenza before hundreds of onlookers. Wallis said it was "a little awkward" to present the cake, but that it felt good to make up for that lost birthday long ago.
Mion will be keeping this cake for herself!
Tomorrow, we will eat that dessert with all my family remembering this wonderful day that I will never forget.
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