An American hero turns 100 on Feb. 6, and there are a couple of ways to help him celebrate this milestone.
Thomson’s Luciano “Louis” Charles Graziano fought in World War II — landing on Omaha Beach in the third wave on D-Day as well as fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. In addition, he’s likely the last living witness to the Germans’ signing of the instrument of surrender at the Little Red Schoolhouse in Reims, France in May 1945.
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He wrote of his service and of meeting his wife, Bobbie, in France in his 2019 book, A Patriot’s Memoirs of World War II. Bobbie Graziano was a staff sergeant in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps.
After World War II, the couple settled in Thomson, where he worked as a hairdresser, and raised five children. She died on her husband’s 84th birthday in 2007.
Send Graziano a birthday card at 238 W. Hill St., Thomson, GA 30824 or give birthday wishes in person from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Thomson-McDuffie Library, 338 Main St.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the publisher of Augusta Good News. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
