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HARRISON, N.Y. -- A new photo joined the glossy display case just inside the doors of the Alfred F. Sulla, Jr. Municipal Building on Monday when Harrison native Tom Varbero shared an old picture of his father's World War I collection. Taped next to the picture is a personal plea that asks for help identifying soldiers in the picture.
"I want to know their names so we can honor them for serving," Varbero said.
The photo includes Varbero's father Tony (Antonio) Varbero with comrade Tom Rende and three other soldiers. Tom Varbero said he was on a quest to identify the unnamed soldiers to do justice to the new addition to the display case inside the building.
It is the second of two photos across the entire display case that includes World War I soldiers, Varbero said. All other photos on display include local veterans from later wars, mostly including World War II.
Verbero was born and raised in Harrison and is a war veteran himself, having served four years during World War II. He retired in 1945 as a sergeant of the military police for working as an interpreter for German and Italian prisoners of war.
While going through old belongings at his Crotona Avenue home in downtown Harrison, he said he came across the photo and thought it would be a worthy contribution to the veterans display at the town's municipal building.
"I donated this so I can share it with the town," Varbero said. "I just want to find out who these other soldiers were."
Tom Varbero said his last name evolved since his father moved to America from Varvaro to Varbero to adjust to American dialects.
Do you know anyone in the picture? Share your war veteran stories with us on Facebook and Twitter. E-mail town reporter Phil Corso at PCorso@TheDailyHarrison.com.
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