European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 14, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 8 the stars and stripes wednesday. October 14,1987 Navy Minnelli liven Columbus Day events b j. King  Bureau Genoa Italy the . Navy and actress i a Minnelli put Pizazz into Columbus Day celebrations in the birth place of the italian navigator. Genoa a sprawling port City of 1.2 million does t make much of a fuss Over the anniversary of the Day on which its most famous son discovered America. The Day is not a Holiday and no Parade is held. What celebrations do take place Are Low key affairs municipal receptions that sort of thing. All that changed when the destroyer tender Shenandoah arrived for a four Day port visit Over the Holiday weekend. The 644-foot ship was greeted upon Arri Val by several Hundred italian youngsters waving american lags. Many of the Shenandoah s Crew of 1,200 smartly lined the ship s rail. We had a Surprise planned. Before leaving Naples we bought Soo italian flags said capt. Ray Sharpe the ship skipper. Our Crew kept them hidden until the italian kids began waving their flags i in our Crew whipped out their flags and began waving Back. It was a great Success. The ship s colourful arrival made splash in the local press and helped get the Ball rolling for Many Friendly encounters Between the Crew and local citizens. More than a tenth of the ship s Crew participated in a Home hospitality pro Gram sponsored by the Uso. The pro Gram encourages focal citizens to play Host to visiting american sailors by either showing them their City or entertain ing them in their Homes. The Shenandoah held open House for classes of italian schoolchildren and Sis pm co by my Ragou senior chief Petty officer Terry Williams Speaks to High school students on Columbia Day in Genoa Italy Suso assistant Paola Saracino looks on. Hundreds of youngsters toured the Amer ican warship during its stay. The 6th Fleet band journeyed from its Headquarters in Naples to stage con cons in the open air and in Heaters in the resorts of Positano and Rapallo As Well As in Genoa to the Delight of thousands of locals who often braved downpours to listen to the music. The study of a foreign language is compulsory in All italian schools and More than a dozen schools took advantage of another Uso program have a teacher for a Day to help their italian family discovers a real switch when it invites sailors to dinner by Alba Ragou Mediterranean Bureau Genoa Italy those italians who say the Gino vase arc stuck up and tight listed would get an argument from . Sailors who visited Genoa Over the col Umbus Day weekend. The Day before the destroyer tender Shenandoah pulled into port a Small article appeared in the local newspaper inviting families to participate in the Home hospitality program sponsored by the Uso. Local families were asked to open their Homes to the visiting sailors. By the following morning More than 100 invitations had been called in and the pro Gram was in full swing. Franco Valle called the Uso and said he would be Happy to share sunday Din Ner with an american Sailor or two. I served four Yean in the italian  said the 40-year-old bookkeeper and i spent four months in Norfolk awaiting the commissioning of a ship. I remember How i Felt out of place at first and How i appreciated the kind Ness of the american people who took the time o talk to me and show me around. I d like to return the  Franco arrived at the Uso and met the sailors who had been assigned As his guests Petty officer 2.c.  Covington Petty officer 3.c. Debbie Sells and Petty officer 3.c. Elizabeth Richardson. Well that s a real switch from the Navy As i know it but they arc most Welcome in my Home Franco said. He was t the Only one startled by the american sailors. The three Shenandoah women were met at the door by Franco s 7-year-old daughter Val Colina. Daddy you said you were bringing Home some sailors. These people Are la Dies she exclaimed. Amelia Franco s wife was not sur prised. As a psychiatric nurse she per forms a Job that until just a few years ago was reserved for men. I read in the newspaper that the . Navy has women sailors and i sure am Happy to meet you All Amelia said. Franco immediately opened a bottle of wine and proposed a Toast to All the Fine sailors who work in the american and italian navies. I guess you can travel until you marry and have children he told the women not expecting another Shock. Of but i am married and i have a daughter too said Richardson 27, who works in the repair division As a welder. I have a daughter too chimed in Covington. So do i Wells said and mine is about the same age As  the news even surprised Amelia. How do you Cope i have a difficult time leaving Valentina for even a couple of Days. I Don t think i could handle Long  Covington 31, and a computer specialist admitted it in t easy. You cry a Loi when you leave she said. Then you keep in touch by phone students Brush up on English and gain insights into american life and service in the . Navy. Sailors from the Shenandoah volunteered to visit italian schools and often spoke to packed houses in gymnasiums and Assembly Halls. Senior chief Petty officer Terry Wil Liams spent monday talking to italian High school students. I have a daughter their age and i promised her that i would bring her Back a memory of my trip Over Here. I m doing it for that reason and to team How italian kids think said the 42-year-oldresident of Garland n.c., who works in precision instrument repair aboard the Shenandoah. Minnelli in Italy on a concert tour and in Genoa to help kick off a future film festival attended a gala with . And italian officials monday afternoon and enlivened the affair by leading the 6lh Fleet band in a spirited rendition of the song  the daughter of the late actress Judy Garland and the late director Vince Etc Minnelli. She announced her backing for a film festival planned to be held in an around Genoa for two weeks annually starting next summer. The festival called italians in Hollywood and entered on american actors produce and directors of italian origin is a part of Genoa s Lead up to celebrations planned for 1992 the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America. At a press conference the 41-year-Oldactress and Singer said her sometimes troubled personal and professional life i running smoothly and announced thai she will soon Start work on a film musical about life in London during the Blitz of world War ii. The first time you get Success it is not very real and you go through times when you have to fight Many demons Minnelli said in obvious reference to her struggle several years ago to overcome alcohol and tranquil Izer dependence. But you fight the demons and when Success comes again you appreciate  Minnelli also said she is eager to put on a concert for . Forces stationed overseas. I d love to. No one has Ever asked me to do one but i d do one in a minute when i m Over  Sis Pokou by a Burgak Elizabeth Richardson Center and Beradette Covington with 2-year-old Anna Valle. And by mail. You work hard so you get tired and Don t have time to Brood. Then when you get Back Home you cry again. This time for  Amelia said she admired them for their strength and Franco proposed an other Toast to the Navy to the sailors and to the families that stand behind them. Amelia brought the food out an old fashioned Genovese dinner that included Antipasto pasta via and a cheese plat Ter. You Don t have to cat what does t Appeal to you Franco said. When i was in Norfolk someone tried got me to cat pickled pigs feet but it made me  by the Lime fruits and dessert were brought to the table the sailors were claiming that they were stuffed and that everything was  it was the Best compliment the hosts could receive. Don t worry about dieting today Franco said. Enjoy it. In Italy we say that you Don t grow old at the  hosts and guests lingered Over after dinner drinks and chatted about Italy the United Stales families and children. My grandmother is italian Rich Ardson said. She will be so thrilled when i Tell her about  this has been the highlight of the entire cruise for me Covington said it s great to see monuments and Beautiful places but the Best thing is to meet the  after the sailors left Val Colina Sai Down to write a school assignment. It was about How she spent sunday. Today we had some new friends for dinner she wrote. One had a pretty smile. One had dimples. One had a Little girl the same age As me. Two wore glasses. Three spoke English and i taught them italian. They were All Beautiful. I Hope i Sec them