My old high school buddy Jim Stone came into town to research some of his family tree. That led us to cemeteries and courthouses in Cape, Scott, Bollinger and Stoddard counties.
Jim found a Stone with the ‘N’ reversed
While he was looking for relatives, I was just looking, particularly for something that might be a good topic for Memorial Day.
The unusual and ornate grave marker for Anthony and Helen Garito in Union Cemetery in Chaffee caught my eye. (Someone will surely point out that they don’t really qualify for Memorial Day attention because they didn’t die in their war. I will acknowledge the nit, and feature them anyway.)
Not much info available
I figured finding information about a family memorialized that grandly would be easy.
Unfortunately, The Chaffee Signal has long ceased publishing. When small down papers die, a lot of the town’s history dies with them.
Battle of the Bulge survivor
A book, Battle of the Bulge filled in some gaps: “Anthony S. Garito, born in Norwich, NY in 1914 of Italian parentage. Inducted at Ft. Bragg, NC in April 1943. After basic training, sent to HQs 127th FA Bn., 35th Inf. Div., Ft. Rucker, AL in July 1943.
“Participated in mock battle for three months with the 100th Inf. Div. in the Tennessee Maneuvers. Sailed for Southern England and nearing D-Day, General “Ike” made his appearance to inspect troops readiness for battle. Landed on Omaha Beach and battled their way through St. Lo, France, and toward the Ardennes Forest.
“In the midst of freezing weather and bitter cold, a smashing blow fell upon us on Dec. 16, 1944, the first day now known as the Battle of the Bulge. Many Nazi prisoners were captured wearing complete GI uniforms.
“Garito is a disabled veteran (paralyzed on right side) with five Campaign Battle Stars and Purple Heart with life member of the Military Order of the Ardennes, Grand Cross of Homage, Reserve Officers Assn., Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, American Legion, and member of the European Theatre of the Battle of the Bulge, WWII.
Met his wife overseas
“He remained overseas in the European Theatre of Occupation as Lt. Colonel after VE-Day, met a WAC friend, now his wife of 42 years, and lives in Chafee MO. One son, and two grandsons, Robbie and David.”
Involved in minor crash
I like to say I do stories about ordinary people – folks who get their names in the paper when they are born, get married, die, and get a speeding ticket.
Mr. Garito didn’t get a speeding ticket, but he lost a $15,000 judgement because of a car crash near Dutchtown in 1963. The Sikeston Standard reported the accident occurred when Mr. Garito’s car and one driven by Larry Meyr of Chaffee “collided or came near to colliding,” resulting in Mr. Meyr going into a ditch. The jury was out for 45 minutes before delivering the verdict.
The Garitos married in 1947
1948 Garito Building
Jim wanted to see if the Chaffee museum on Main Street in Chaffee was open (unfortunately, it’s by appointment only). While I was getting into my car, I looked across the street and saw an impressive stone building with the name Garito on it, along with the date 1948, a year after Anthony and Helen were married.
It had the same “running legs” logo as was on the grave marker. I wonder what the symbolism is?
Ran liquor store from 1948 to 1964
A 1999 obituary in The Southeast Missourian said that Mr. Garito owned and operated Garito Liquor Package Store from 1948 to 1964. I wonder if it was in this building?
The International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame reported on July 4, 1963, that “Tony Garito had a good Independence Day! At Lucky 13 Lanes in Chaffee, Missouri, Garito rolled a 279. The center was outfitted by AMF equipment, and the manufacturing company provided proprietors with these ashtrays that could become personalized trophies in a pinch.”
Good Article. thanks for sharing.
My dad is a member of the historical society and lives right next to it. Ill ask what info they might have on them.
great. If he has more info, please post it as a comment so other folks can see it.
Who know all this…not an ordinary life at all. Sounds life a good life.
Great job ,,my grandpa, Roscoe Nanney was a good friend of his,,always talked about them.
This takes me back to when Sally Wright Brown and I talked with Tony Garito at the Union Park Cemetery in Chaffee for a May 29, 1977 front-page story in the Southeast Missourian.
Garito designed the mausoleum, an idea that came to him while visiting a New York cemetery in 1974. The memorial took 14 burial plots and was constructed on a hillside next to an oak tree that had been designated as one of Scott County’s historic trees.
Figuring prominently in the memorial is the Triskelion, the three human running legs, symbolic of Sicily. Garito’s parents were natives of Sicily, although he was born in the U.S.
Lions flank the memorial. Lions also graced the exterior of the Garito home. He said they symbolized strength and courage. The bas relief carvings of Tony and Helen Garito were done by an Italian-born master sculptor. Both were veterans of World War II. On the memorial, a phrase in Italian is translated, “We met in Paris, France.”
Thanks for filling in the gaps in my story. I especially like learning what the running legs symbolized.
The 3 legs symbol does have a connection to Sicily. Perhaps the Garitos were Sicilian. The flag of Sicily does have 3 legs on it.
That was in fact a liquor store the bottom part. My father James Ourth lived above in one of the apartments for years. This was In the early 80s and we would stop there, dad would buy a couple beers and I would always get a slim Jim before heading upstairs to his apartment. The windows that are covered is where the liquor store was. Then looking at the front facade, the door to the left was the door that led upstairs to the three apartments.
Thanks for filling in the blanks.