Delco re:View Fall 2017 - 6

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What America Means to Me ...
By Barbara Ann Zippi, Artemis Productions
www.CiaoBellaLivingItalianStyle.World

L

andmarks here and those in Italy are part of my heritage...
from Uncle Raymond Acciavatti's work as a contractor
for the historic Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia;
to the park located in South Philadelphia in honor of Uncle
Anthony "Tony" Di Prospero, Founder and First President of
the Columbus Civic Association in PA; to my uncle Al Alberts,
lead singer of The Four Aces who recorded and earned a Gold
Record for "Three Coins in a Fountain," a world-wide tradition
for anyone visiting the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
Spanning many generations, some know Al Alberts of The
Four Aces; others know him as host of the Al Alberts Showcase
on WPVI-TV6 for over 30 years; some from his performances
at Hershey Park's Palumbo's, The Wildwoods, or auditioning
thousands of acts at J & A Caterers (now JNA Institute of
Culinary Arts); and others who know well, his popular recording
of "On the Way to Cape May."
What many do not know, however, is
that Al Alberts (Albertini) was a Radioman
aboard the Destroyer Charles F. Hughes
who saw active combat duty in WW
II. During Al's military service, he was
also a member of The Navy Dance Band
Orchestra, and while on a lay-over in
Newfoundland, Alberts met Dave Mahoney,
US Navy, whose ship was also in at the
same time. Musicians at heart, the two
promised to unite when back in the States.
Mahoney offered his Chester friends, Sod
Vaccaro and Lou Silvestri, to the line-up of
musicians, and the rest is 'recorded' history
with 5 Gold Records that include "Tell Me
Why," "It's No Sin," "Stranger in Paradise"
and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing."

The Four Aces are memorialized at the Delaware
County Veterans Memorial
Never leaving his love of military far behind, during Al's solo
career, he headlined American Motors "RambleRama Tour," an
All-American Broadway Show for American Service personnel
overseas. The tour included 59 performances in 60 days across
the countries of Europe and entertainment aboard the USS
Independence for the Air Force in the Bay of Naples, Italy.
Recently I reflected on the importance of Preserving
Columbus Day across the United States, not knowing that Frank

6 | Fall 2017

Rizzo's statue would be challenged. History
is history, both good and bad. Men and
women leave their mark in this world for us
to learn. And, we are never too old to learn.

Al sings Star Spangled Banner
for indoctrination of new judges
with Judge Catania in Media
Courthouse, Delaware County, PA
Being part of the Delaware County
Veterans Memorial in Newtown Square,
PA, since it was a dirt field to the regional
monument it has become, has opened my
eyes to the men and women of the military.
Thanks to men like Cape May County's
Vietnam Army Veteran Joe Griffies, Radio
Host of Welcome Home Veterans on WIBG
1020 AM and WIBG 101.3 FM, Saturdays at
2pm, it is important to share these stories.
My uncle never shared anything about his military service
until his autobiography, "Al's Song," was released. With a degree
in Journalism from Temple University, here is a poem written by
Al Alberts; it is his first-hand account of being in combat. It is
written to flow as "Twas the Night Before Christmas" and was
published in the military newspaper after the battle. I proudly
share it with you so that you too can remember the heroes in your
family and say "THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE."
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