CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) RESOURCE CENTER Read More
Add To Favorites

Parade held for Thomson WWII veteran after battle with COVID-19

Augusta Chronicle - 10/27/2020

Oct. 26--Over the past couple of weeks, Kim Evans had noticed her 97-year-old father, a World War II veteran, had been a little down after his fight with COVID-19.

Evans wanted to do something to cheer him up, so she sent out messages to friends asking for them to send Luciano "Louis" Graziano letters of encouragement. One of her friends reached out to the Patriot Guard Riders in California, who contacted the Georgia chapter and set up a parade to cheer Graziano up at his home in Thomson on Sunday.

"He was very honored and he really enjoyed it," Evans said. "I haven't seen him smile like that in a very long time."

Graziano was part of the third D-Day wave on Omaha Beach and fought in the Battle of the Bulge. He is also the last surviving witness of the signing of the German surrender at the Little Red Schoolhouse. He served on Dwight D. Eisenhower's staff at Reims, France. He was born just outside of Buffalo, N.Y., and has been living in Thomson since 1956.

Evans said Graziano tested positive for COVID-19 on Sept. 23 and was hospitalized at the Augusta VA with a mild case. She said the family was very concerned because of his age. He has been cleared for about two to three weeks.

Leon McLamb, the assistant state captain of the Southeast region of the Patriot Guard Riders of Georgia, organized the parade. He said the goal was simply to lift Graziano's spirits.

"He is a war hero. Our World War II heroes are basically the reason we have freedom in this country today," he said. "When the family requested and we felt like it was very important to honor him, we set it up and it really turned out great."

McLamb estimates about 50 people, including neighbors, attended the parade. A lot of them took pictures and spoke with Graziano about his experience.

Graziano wrote a book about his war experience called, "A Patriot's Memoirs of World War II: Through My Eyes, Heart, and Soul." Evans said a whole year's worth of speaking tours had been booked, but everything was canceled or postponed because of COVID-19.

Graziano was supposed to be in Washington for the D-Day memorial and for the VE Day celebration. Last year, he was honored in Washington and was escorted by U.S. Rep. Jody Hice and members of his staff to the White House for a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence. He also was presented a personalized letter from President Donald Trump.

McLamb said the parade was very emotional for him and he was glad he was able to bring a smile to a war hero.

"He was waving, smiling, almost like a kid yesterday, and that was a great feeling that we had a small part in bringing this about," he said.

___

(c)2020 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.)

Visit The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.) at chronicle.augusta.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.