Richard & Maria's Love Story

In 1953 when I was drafted into the army, I prayed that after completing basic training, I would be lucky enough to be sent overseas to Europe where I would have an opportunity to visit Italy where my parents were born.  My prayers were answered when I was shipped to Germany where I would spend the remainder of my tour of duty.

While In Germany, my chance to visit my parents’ hometown came true.  With only an address of a distant aunt, I traveled from Frankfurt, Germany to Rome, Italy and then to St. Vito Ionio in Calabria where my mother was born.

When I arrived at the train station, I showed the taxi driver the name and address of my distant aunt whom I had never met and who did not know I was coming to visit.  The taxi driver recognized the name Teresa Ciraco and said there were several in St. Vito.  So he took me to a Ciraco family he knew.  He knocked on the door and announced that I was an American soldier looking for a Teresa Ciraco.  A beautiful young girl came to the door and said she didn’t know who I was and she called her mother who asked me if I was from Bayonne.  I said, “No, I’m from Chicago.”  Just then my distant aunt who happened to be passing by recognized the letter and we were thankfully united.

However I could not forget the beautiful young girl named Maria who had earlier answered the door.  On my second visit to St. Vito while I was still in the army, Maria and I became better acquainted.  I knew that she was the girl I wanted to marry.  Without hesitating I asked Maria to marry me and to my grateful surprise, she said yes.  With her parents’ permission and delight, we became engaged.  I returned to Germany and we corresponded often and our love letters made my time in Germany pass quickly.

After my discharge from the army and a year later, I returned to visit St. Vito and Maria and I were married.  Our unforgettable honeymoon took us to Rome, Naples, and Capri.

I had to return to Chicago and prepare the proper documentation for my wife Maria to come to Chicago.  Out first 5 years of marriage was spent in Chicago and then we resettled in Bayonne.

We were married on May 6th, 1956 and on May 6th, 2006, we celebrated our 50th Anniversary.  During that memorable time, we have been blessed with three wonderful children and four beautiful grandchildren.  Meeting the love of my life began with a name and an address and a dream and a wish to visit my parents’ hometown in St. Vito, Italy.  There is a reason for everything.