World Premiere of documentary telling the story of Italian Poisoners of WW2 at Letterkenny Depot showcased in Chambersburg

The Spark

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau held a world premiere of “Fedelta. Solider. Prisoner” at the Capitol Theatre in downtown Chambersburg. It is a documentary of the Italian Prisoners of War that were kept at the Letterkenny Army Depot during World War II. The documentary was created by Stephen Mancini.

“Steve Mancini Productions did a fantastic job shining a spotlight on such a special piece of World War two history. And to have the families bring to life the impact that the experience of being here at Letterkenny Army Depot during World War Two had on their family members. And we look every day we drive by the Letterkenny Chapel. And that's an artifact of that history that forever will make it part of Franklin County and then connect us to those families in Italy. And that was the documentary that just drove that whole, “said Janet Pollard, Executive Director of the Franklin County Visitors Burau.

During the Second World War, the depot was about 20,000 acres of farmland. After the attack on Pearl Habor, the government decided to construct an army facility. About 50,000 Italian POW’s came to America. 150 of the 50,000 ended up at the Letterkenny Army Depot.

“They came here as with at that point in the war, the Italy had which size and become an allied supporter. So those folks that were captured had the opportunity to become cooperators. And most of them, maybe 85% of them of the 50,000 did, they became the Italian service units. So, we had 150 soldiers at the depot. “And as I said, they worked alongside the civilians,” said Dave Sciamanna, Board member of the Historic Letterkenny Chapel.

The POW’s built the Letterkenny Chapel. According to Pollard, it was built out of sorrow.

They didn't know what was happening to their families in the same way that they really wanted to in their hearts. And out of that, they took their well, their desire to do something there, their fear, I think, with feelings of homesickness and sorrow. And they put that into building the Letterkenny Chapel, “said Pollard.

The Franklin County Visitors Bureau is showcasing the Letterkenny Italian POW story in the lobby of the 11/30 Visitors Center. The exhibit will be open from Sept 6 and will be available to the public until November 11.

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