La Spezia: A commemorative plaque donated to Bill Cline

La Spezia: A commemorative plaque donated to Bill Cline.

In recent days, the mayor of La Spezia Pierluigi Peracchini donated a commemorative plaque to Bill Cline, son of William Cline, who was the commander of one of the light tank companies of the 758th Afro-American Light Tanks Regiment: among the first to enter La Spezia for the liberation of the city on 23 April 1945.

The meeting between the mayor and Cline was held in Verdi square, during the event “Vehicles and Memory”. The American, originally from South Carolina, instead gave the city an insignia of his father's uniform.

Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini declares: “It was a pleasure to have Bill Cline as a guest during the event: he wanted to be present in the days of commemoration of the liberation and we wanted to thank him by leaving him a memory of our city. I also want to congratulate the 92nd Division Buffalo Association for organizing the historical re-enactment and the parades through the streets of La Spezia".

The vehicles dating back to the Second World War owned by the association can be visited in Piazza Verdi, as well as having traveled some sections in the streets adjacent to the historic center to bring back memories of the moment of entry for the liberation of the city from the Nazi-Fascists. Today they remained on display at the Railway Museum.