The press conference was held this morning at Palazzo Civico in view of the anniversary of April 25th this year 79th Anniversary of the Liberation of Italy, with the presentation of the program of celebrations developed by the municipal administration and the Unitary Committee of the Resistance. It is a calendar of events, open to all citizens, with in-depth moments dedicated above all to the younger generations. The initiatives were illustrated at Palazzo Civico by the vice mayor Maria Grazia Frijia, by the Prefect Maria Luisa Inversini, by the division admiral Flavio Biaggi, commander of the Interregional Maritime North and by the co-presidents of the Unitary Committee Giorgio Pagano and Paolo Galatini. “April 25 is a date of great significance in the history of our country – we read in the note from Mayor Peracchini – we celebrate the victory of democracy and we renew our commitment to defending the values of freedom, equality and solidarity. On the occasion of this important anniversary we wanted to organize a series of initiatives to honor those who fought for our freedom with courage and sacrifice and which aim to involve the community as a whole in a moment of reflection. Our city has been awarded the Gold Medal for Civil Merit and the Silver Medal for Military Valor and it is our duty, especially today in these difficult times, to continue to pass on to the new generations the historical events that have shaped our country and, through understanding them, can thus create a more just future”.
“Memory and constitution are the foundations of civil life – added Inversini -. The kids have grown up in a climate where everything seems possible and it should be remembered that it wasn’t like that once.” Commander Biaggi’s speech was along the same lines: “The Navy is pleased to participate and bring the message in memory of everything our predecessors did to bring the nation to democracy. We are historically part of the city and proud to be there.” “It’s the first April 25th of the twenty months of events designed for the 80th year. In 2024 we dedicate our initiatives to 1944, very important for our city: they were months of strikes and the so-called “partisan spring” and autumn was the scene of tragic round-ups. The students are at the center of the discussion, for a mutual exchange. It will also be a very rich April 25th in the territory with initiatives in the municipalities. “We can only reiterate that anti-fascism is the founding culture of Italian democracy – added Pagano -. He knew how to create antibodies that are not lost. The theme of social justice is increasingly before us, I think of the sad events of deaths at work and then of course peace because that is what was wanted. The partisans went to the mountains because they were deserters from the Salò Republic, no one wanted to fight except to regain freedom”. Speaking of antibodies, one wonders if they are still strong in these difficult times: “April 25th happens every day, we have to fight and respond to our conscience. The question of memory always comes up again, but I think we go to schools and see that these values are rooted. I don’t find it difficult for the new generations to understand the meaning. They always call us and if 80 years later we continue to talk about it, it means that it was important. Otherwise we won’t be here today.” Galantini closes with words of “satisfaction and pride. In our city there is a positive synergy that has continued, in full harmony: I want to remember that our province is a gold medal for the Resistance together with only ten other provinces in all of Italy. It is testimony to the richness of a fabric that is not the same throughout the country.”
The program:
The first appointment is scheduled for Tuesday 23 April at 10.30 at the Teatro Civico della Spezia, where a meeting with students and citizens is scheduled. The morning will open with a short concert by the students of the Puccini Conservatory which will be followed by greetings from Mayor Peracchini, speeches by Nicola Carozza representing the Provincial Unitary Committee of the Resistance and by Dr. Patrizia Gallotti for the ETS Foundation – Institute Spezzino for the History of the Resistance and the Contemporary Age. The morning will continue with the Lectio Magistralis held by Professor Marco Carrattieri, historian and coordinator of the Scientific Committee of Liberation Route Italywho will speak on the topic: “1944 The strikes in the factories, the partisan spring and summer, the massacres and round-ups”.
We continue Wednesday 24 April at 10 o’clock at the XXV April Park, where the wreath will be placed at the Monument to the Martyrs of Kefalonia and Corfu and the Aegean Islands. After the deposition, the blessing will be given and speeches will follow by Luciano Civita, president of the Conf. Combatting Associations; Verusca Lorè, President of Anpi Migliarina; Doriana Ferrato, member of the Unitary Committee of the Resistance; the Councilor Pietro Cimino for the Municipality of La Spezia. At 9pm the usual torchlight procession will start from Largo Marcantone accompanied by the “G. Puccini”; to follow in Piazza Concordia a wreath will be placed at the Migliarinese Monument and the blessing will be carried out. We will continue to the XXV Aprile Park for the laying of the Crown at the “Fischia il Vento” Monument and the related blessing. Subsequently, the “G. Puccini will perform the National Anthem. At the end the authorities will pay homage to the Memorial Park and to the gravestones present. This will be followed by speeches by Peracchini, mayor of La Spezia; Giorgio Pagano, co-President of the Unitary Resistance Committee and Antonio Carro, general secretary of the CISL for the confederal unions.
We finally arrive at Thursday 25 April at 10.30 am at Piazzale del Marinaio, where the laying of the Wreaths (Municipality, Province, Navy, Prefecture) will take place at the “Winged Victory” Monument to the fallen of all the Wars. Following this, wreaths will be laid in Via Santorre di Santarosa at the plaque to the “Fallen Partisans of the Justice and Freedom Column”; in Piazza Verdi to the plaques placed on the Palazzo degli Studi and finally to the Monument to the Resistance in the Public Gardens, where speeches will be held by the Mayor of La Spezia and President of the Province Pierluigi Peracchini and Paolo Galantini, Co-President of the Unitary Committee of the Resistance.
Tags: Liberation turns days events Pagano fight April #25th day
