Our final Veteran for the day is Joe Mallamaci. We called and interviewed him so he could answer a couple of questions for us. Instead of a question and answer, he went on and told us some special memories he had while serving in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Division in 1967.
Joe’s faith has always been very important to him. It helped him through Basic Training and being in Vietnam. While at war he kept rosary beads with him and attended mass with the chaplain when he was able to. The rosary beads were from home and did not hold any significant meaning at the time. That all changed when he was wounded and there was only one bead left on his rosary – he still has it to this day.
This Sunday you can thank Joe and other Veterans at a mass at St. Andrews in Newtown, Pa. They hold a special mass each year for Veterans. During the Entrance Procession, they invite all Veterans, current Armed Forces and their families to walk at the 9am Mass on Sunday. There will even be a special blessing at the end of Mass.
Joe left us with a great view of life and faith at the end of our phone call: stay strong in faith and you will get through the worst of times. Just believe in the Lord and although it may take some time, you will always get through it.
Thank you Joe for your service and for taking the time out of your day to talk to us!