During the second war, the town of Pettorano sul Gizio was very close to the action because of its proximity to the Gustav Line, a defensive position estabilished by the Germans to slow down the advancing Allied forces. Pettorano’s geographic coordinates and its major transportation corridors, motivated the Germans army to set up a post in this locale. As the results of location and the German army presence, the town is rich in war history, including the evacuation of 4,000 souls when a major offensive was imminent. Some of the evacuees scattered into neighbouring outskirts, but most of them fl ed into the mountains near the village, seeking refuge. I have also added another story, which I share with at least 3,000 citizen of Pettorano: the immigrant experience.The war and its devastation on the economy made imperative the necessity to leave the homeland in search of a better life. Many of us came to Canada. It is from here that I recall the journey and pen these words and comment on the events so that our children’s and grandchildren’s generation might appreciate the sacrifi ces endured by their ancestors.