The celebration of April 25th, the 79th anniversary of the liberation of Italy from Nazi-fascism, was renewed again this year in Marsala. As scheduled, the institutional event organized by the municipal administration and the “Vincenzo Alagna” section of the ANPI began with a short procession, from Palazzo VII Aprile to the Parco delle Partigiane, where the journalist Chiara Putaggio read a text dedicated to the three young people from Marsala (Francesca Alongi, Bice Cerè And Grace Meningi) who participated in the Resistance (here is the full text).
The initiative then continued in the San Girolamo area, where the Largo dei Partigiani Marsalesi is located, with the commemorative plaque commemorating all the Libyans who contributed with their choice and their commitment to the Liberation. Present were representatives of the city institutions, the armed forces, associations, politics (Pd, M5S, AVS), the trade union world and various citizens.
“We have a duty not to let this memory fade, to raise it through moments of reflection, so that all this is not forgotten,” the mayor stated in his speech. Massimo Grillo (accompanied by councilors Marchese and Ingardia), then underlining the need to associate the concept of freedom with those of equality and solidarity. The president of the municipal council Enzo Sturiano he underlined the need to preserve the values of Resistance and Liberation, with particular reference to the present war scenarios and to article 11 of the Constitution, which establishes the repudiation of war as a tool for resolving international disputes. The secretary of the Marsala Chamber of Labor then spoke about the Constitution as a compass to orient us in the times we live in, Benedetto Petrusa.
The final speech was by Gaspare Galfanorepresenting the Anpi section of Marsala, chaired by Nile Pine (absent at the event for health reasons). Galfano reiterated the importance of memory, recalling the first events organized in Marsala for April 25th and how this celebration has grown over time, thanks to the commitment of the Anpi. Then he read a message written by Pino Nilo himself, who also dedicated a passage to the recent issue of censorship of the writer Antonio Scurati, expressing concern for the attitude taken by Rai in this period with respect to the freedom of expression of thought, constitutionally recognized by Article 21. In his message Nilo also returned to the administration’s request for the assignment of a seat to the Marsala ANPI and to the proposal to give a worthy location to the Unknown Soldier within the city cemetery.
After the blessing of Don Nicholas ArtaxerxesGrillo Sturiano and Galfano laid a laurel wreath near the toponym of Largo dei Partigiani.
The celebration ended with a short extra-programme, which saw the delegation of the Democratic Party and the Young Democrats of Marsala singing “Bella Ciao”, the symbolic song of the Italian Resistance.
