{"product_id":"9781453575697","title":"My Wartime Italian Roots and My Canadian Dream","description":"During the second war, the town of Pettorano sul Gizio was very  \u003cbr\u003eclose to the action because of it's proximity to the Gustav Line, a  \u003cbr\u003edefensive position estabilished by the Germans to slow down the  \u003cbr\u003eadvancing Allied forces. Pettorano's geographic coordinates and it's  \u003cbr\u003emajor transportation corridors, motivated the Germans army to set  \u003cbr\u003eup a post in this locale. As the results of location and the German  \u003cbr\u003earmy presence, the town is rich in war history, including the evacuation  \u003cbr\u003eof 4,000 souls when a major offensive was imminent. Some of the  \u003cbr\u003eevacuees scattered into neighbouring outskirts, but most of them fl ed  \u003cbr\u003einto the mountains near the village, seeking refuge.  \u003cbr\u003eI have also added another story, which I share with at least 3,000  \u003cbr\u003ecitizen of Pettorano: the immigrant experience.The war and its  \u003cbr\u003edevastation on the economy made imperative the necessity to leave the  \u003cbr\u003ehomeland in search of a better life. Many of us came to Canada. It is  \u003cbr\u003efrom here that I recall the journey and pen these words and comment on  \u003cbr\u003ethe events so that our children's and grandchildren's generation might  \u003cbr\u003eappreciate the sacrifi ces endured by their ancestors.","brand":"Xlibris US","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47157388378352,"sku":"9781453575697","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9781453575697_p0.jpg?v=1763857669","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9781453575697","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}