When three mayors from Vicenza province toured the Northeast in late-April, they gained a new perspective on the U.S. Army, American history and much more. While the Vicenza area has been home to thousands of Americans over the past seven decades, this first-of-its-kind trip to the States gave Nicola Ferronato, mayor of Caldogno, Renzo Marangon, mayor of Camisano Vicentino, and Andrea Nardin, mayor of Montegalda, a new perspective on who the U.S. Soldiers are – as many inhabit their towns while serving overseas.

An 11-person delegation, that included their spouses and a staff member from U.S. Army Garrison Italy’s public affairs office, was a self-funded, two-week expedition that ended on May 3. They saw New York, Boston, Toronto, Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia.