A Season of Gratitude, and Looking Ahead

As the year draws to a close, all of us at Association Benàch would like to wish our friends, supporters, partners, and community a peaceful Christmas and a New Year filled with hope.

This past year has once again reminded us why remembrance, research, and education matter. Through school visits, historical projects, and the sharing of personal stories, we have seen how the history of the Second World War continues to resonate — especially with younger generations discovering it for the first time.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are preparing several new initiatives. These include educational activities, research developments, and collaborative projects that will further explore the wartime history of Northern Lake Garda and beyond. Each project is guided by the same core values that define our work: respect for memory, historical accuracy, and a deep belief in education as a bridge between past and present.

Among the projects currently in development is “With Love, Billy”, our documentary dedicated to the life and legacy of BG William O. Darby, founder of the U.S. Army Rangers. In the coming months, we will begin sharing teaser material and updates as this important project continues to take shape. Keep an eye out for the first glimpses of this story, which highlights courage, leadership, and sacrifice.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who has supported Association Benàch along the way — through encouragement, collaboration, and a shared passion for history. A special thanks to our sponsors and supporters, whose generosity and belief in our mission make these projects possible.

From all of us at Association Benàch, we wish you a Christmas filled with warmth and a New Year rich in purpose, curiosity, and connection.

Buon Natale e felice anno nuovo from Northern Italy!

Celebrating the season together at the Association Benàch headquarters

The Association Benàch team, together at HQ

WWII artefacts from the Association Benàch collection

Learning from history through original WWII objects

WWII artefacts used for research, education, and remembrance

A Christmas wreath prepared in memory of the 25 U.S. servicemen Missing in Action aboard the DUKW on 30 April 1945. Their story is honoured in “The Lost Mountaineers.” Soon, we will gather at their monument to lay the wreath and observe a quiet moment of remembrance.