"Our mothers were sisters, and I was the only male sibling among nine sisters. Anthony was the big brother I always looked up to," Ippolito said. "He was an honest guy and treated people with respect.

"Anthony was two years older than me and was the brain in our family. He picked up things so quickly and would retain them so easily. He always helped me out in school, as he was an excellent student," Ippolito continued.

"We both attended Downingtown High School and he played varsity football. Anthony also was a member of the French and Stagecraft Clubs and always participated in the yearly Christmas play.

"Anthony was very interested in astronomy and aeronautics. It was a hobby of his where he would collect and study all the alphabets of the world. He was a very smart student and graduated as the Valedictorian of the Class of 1941."

Ippolito continued to say that Anthony was born on December 22, 1920 and his parents, Guiseppe and Donata, lived in Cheiti, Italy. They had two sons, Emilio and Anthony, who was the oldest. Anthony's father emigrated to the United States first, in 1921, and boarded with his brother-in-law, Guiseppe Ippolito, who lived at 359 Jackson Avenue in Downingtown.

Anthony's father sent for Tony in 1930. When he arrived, he lived with his father and uncle. "We all went to the same church, St. Joseph, when it was on Bradford Avenue. Anthony and I became very close friends and he was like a brother to me," Ippolito said."We also knew the Marinelli brothers, James and Dominic, who also lived on our block, a block away. What a shame to also lose both brothers to the war," Ippolito said.

Anthony was a hard worker and a very personable young man. Ippolito said, "I remember one time, he was so honest, he paid for a bike wheel he had broken. Anthony borrowed my bicycle that my father bought me. He wanted to go to the farm located at the East End of town, near the high bridge area, to purchase some milk. By putting the two-gallon milk can on the handle bar, he wobbled and crashed the bike, breaking the wheel and losing the milk. Anthony walked back to the farm and purchased more milk and paid for a new bile wheel out of his own pocket. Anthony later told me what happened after I asked him what happened to the milk can that was busted up. Back then, milk wasn't much, but we didn't have much either," Ippolito said.

Ippolito continued to say that after graduation, Anthony worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad and he enjoyed driving his father's 1939 Nash sedan. He got a letter from the Italian government telling Anthony to return to Italy to serve in the Italian Army. Anthony refused, as he said he was proud to be an American.

Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The next day, Anthony went to his Aunt Comare Mariett and borrowed two dollars. It was later learned that he used the money to ride the train to Philadelphia and enlisted in the Marine Corps. "He never told his father, who was very upset when he found out," Ippolito said.

Anthony took off on January 10, 1942 and was sent to Parris Island, South Carolina, for basic training. "After three months, he came back to see the family, and that was the last time I saw him," Ippolito sadly said.

He was sent overseas to the South Pacific to serve with the 1st Marine Division. As a sniper, Anthony fought on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. After their victory, his division was sent to Australia. While there, Anthony wrote home to say he loved Australia and that he met and fell in love with a young Australian girl and after the war he planned to marry her.

In the war report, after furlough Anthony's division was sent to New Britain Island, the largest island of the Bismarck Archipelago, just off the coast from New Guinea. The Japanese had taken New Britain and landed on the larger New Guinea during the invasion of Australia. It was during this operation that Anthony gave his life.

He was killed in action on December 28, 1943 and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Navy Cross.

The citation for the Navy Cross was signed by the Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal for President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The citation read as follows: "For extraordinary heroism while serving with the First Marine Division during operations against enemy Japanese forces on Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, December 28, 1943. Voluntarily patrolling forward of our positions, Sergeant DiCristofaro penetrated the enemy lines, locating fortified enemy positions which he reported promptly to his commanding officer, thereby enabling our forces to register artillery on exact enemy positions and render them useless. Returning to the front lines, Sergeant DiCristofaro lost his life while attempting to silence an enemy machine gun. His aggressive fighting spirit, valiant self-sacrifice and stout-hearted devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country."

Anthony was buried on Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. He later was returned to his home country and buried in the Baltimore National Cemetery in the western suburbs of the city, with full military honors.

Peter Ippolito says he plans to visit Washington's World War II Memorial someday, but admits that it is more important for his children and those of other veterans to see. "I don't know if it could really take the place of your own remembrances," he finished.

For those who might remember, in 1943, Downingtown had their own Veterans Memorial Wall, known as the "Honor Roll Monument." It was located at Jefferson and Chestnut streets, on the East End of town.

A rare picture not seen, but remembered and in the possession of Marie Daylor Charles, who says the monument was built on her uncle Charles Furlong's property. He had Furlong Grocery Store there at one time. Marie says the monument was built by contractor William Walton, who was a friend of her father, Paul V. Daylor, who originally thought of the idea to honor Downingtown's East End soldiers, the men who lived around Glass Town and Frog Hollow.

"I am not sure how many years the monument stood around. It was very visible during the 40s. It was taken down because the Sinclair gas station was to be built. Later, the gas station closed and it became a deli for many years, and now it is a beauty parlor. That Honor Roll Monument was a proud thing my family had done for the servicemen of Downingtown," Charles concluded.

Until next time,Ciao,Joe D'Angelo

P.S. Peter Ippolito, also a veteran, was drafted into the Navy in July 1943. Even though he didn't see front line action, his sacrifice, along with all veterans who served and died for our country, will always be remembered, not just on Veterans Day, but every day.