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Re: Mass Honors POWs Who Built, Used Chapel

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: July 31, 2003

"Mass honors POWs who built, used chapel

• What: A Mass and picnic will mark the 60th anniversary of the construction of the Chapel in the Meadow at Camp Atterbury by Italian prisoners of war. The festivities, open to the public, are sponsored by the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana and the Indiana German Heritage Society.

• When: Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
 
July 31, 2003
 
Italian prisoners of war held at Camp Atterbury during World War II used salvage lumber and other scraps to build a small house of worship they called Chapel in the Meadow. On Sunƒ{ day, members of the Italian Heritage Society of Indiana and Indiana German Heritage Society will celebrate a Mass and host a picnic at the chapel. The Indianapolis Star talked to Sol Petruzzi of the Italian Heritage Society about the event.

What is planned for Sunday? There will be a rosary and Mass, followed by a picnic. We'll have lots of good food and music and camaraderie. It is our way of paying tribute to the 3,000 Italian -- and later, the 9,000 German -- prisoners of war who built and worshipped at the chapel.

When did the celebration begin?

This will be our 14th year, and it also is the 60th anniversary of the chapel's construction in 1943. We started having the annual Mass and picnic a year after the chapel was renovated and rededicated in 1989. Last year, we had about 300 people attend.

Who comes?

We send out notices to many of the Catholic parishes, but about 25 percent to 30 percent of the people who come are not Catholic. We also get a lot of people from the Italian and German societies. Libero Puccini, a former Italian prisoner of war who lives in Ohio, will be a special guest, and we expect family members of at least one other former POW. Anyone who is interested is welcome to attend.

What can people expect?

We'll start at 11 a.m. with a narration of the rosary, followed by the Mass. The Italian Heritage Society gave out eight $1,000 scholarships this year, and the recipients will be the altar servers. They will carry the statue of the Virgin Mary and help with the Mass. The Edinburgh American Legion Post will post the colors and provide a 21-gun salute; we'll sing the national anthem and the Italian national anthem. We'll also have rosaries made up of green, white and red beads, the colors of the Italian flag. We gave out 165 last year and have 200 made for this year.

What about the picnic?

There will be lots of good food -- Italian and German. We get some of the Italian restaurants in Indianapolis to donate items, and everyone who attends is asked to bring a dish.

How can people get more information about the events?
Call me at 1-317-849-9731 or Betty Randall at 1-812-546-5328.

Tim Evans
©2003 IndyStar"