U.S. tankers and infantry soldiers helped liberate this picturesque northern Italian city 77 years ago, braving German sniper fire on the city's Corso San Felice Fortunato, or street of lucky fortune. Then they liberated a teenager's birthday cake.

Those events were commemorated Thursday in a leafy park adjacent to that same street, with military dignitaries, U.S. sergeants, priests, mayors, well-wishers and the formerly 13-year-old owner of the purloined cake, who turns 90 on Friday. Meri Mion got her cake replaced during the ceremony. It was presented by Col. Matthew Gomlak, commander of U.S. Army Garrison Italy, and followed by everyone singing “Happy Birthday” in Italian and English.