web1_Malvizzipassport.jpg

2016 Coming to America: The Malvizzi family

web1_weather-1-.jpg

Sunny skies, warm temperatures rule the holiday weekend in the Wyoming Valley

<p>The Queen Mary arrived in New York in February 1946, carrying many World War II war brides and their children. My mother, Dorothy White Belles, and I were among that group.</p><p>My father, Donald Belles, was from Wilkes-Barre. He was in the Army/Aircorp and was deployed to England during the war. My mother also served her country after being drafted. They both had clerical positions with their respective branches and that&#8217;s how my mother and father met.</p><p>They were married in March 1944. I was told it was quite difficult for them to get permission to be married, but once they did, they were married in St. Paul&#8217;s Church.</p><p>I was born in April 1945, two weeks before V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day). While the war was still going on, the pregnant women in London were evacuated to the countryside. Manor houses had been remodeled into hospitals so the women could deliver their babies in safety. That&#8217;s where I was born.</p><p>After the war ended, the United States government agreed to pay for the war brides and children of American soldiers to come to the United States. It was the largest group of immigrants to have had their way to the U.S. paid.</p><p>My mother told me the Queen Mary had been retrofitted for use by the military and was devoid of the luxuries of a regular cruise ship. Our trip over was smooth and my mother said the babies had to sleep in wire baskets attached to the side of the ship &#8212; inside, of course. She also told me the food was fabulous and the brides were unaccustomed to such a variety, having come from London where food had been strictly rationed.</p><p>My mother later became a citizen of her new country and I had dual citizenship.</p><p>Just last year, I was able to stay aboard the Queen Mary, now docked in Long Beach, California, and operated as a hotel. It was a wonderful experience. There was a lot of information aboard the ship about the war brides. I mentioned I was also on the Queen Mary at that time and the guide said he was honored to have me as part of the tour group.</p><p>I&#8217;m proud to be a part of history.</p><p>I know my story isn&#8217;t about struggle or leaving a war-torn country because of oppression, but it is a unique one and one I&#8217;m proud to share.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_sheila.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sheila Dziak poses aboard the Queen Mary. She came to America aboard the ship when she was a baby. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_sheila.jpg</photo0><caption0>Sheila Dziak poses aboard the Queen Mary. She came to America aboard the ship when she was a baby. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photo </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_sheilaCMYK.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sheila Dziak poses aboard the Queen Mary. She came to America aboard the ship when she was a baby. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_sheilaCMYK.jpg</photo1><caption1>Sheila Dziak poses aboard the Queen Mary. She came to America aboard the ship when she was a baby. </caption1><photoCredit1>Submitted photo </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Sheila Dziak</p></bylineMeta></div>

2016 Coming to America: The Belles family