Varese also celebrates April 25th. The demonstration which took place today, Italy’s Liberation Day, saw the participation of many people, together with civil and religious authorities. After the mass celebrated in the Basilica of San Vittore, in memory of those who fell for freedom, the procession began through the streets of the center of Varese and the Italian anthem, played by the Marchirolo municipal band, started the ceremony.
In the front row the band, followed by the various associations, including the national forestry, financiers and partisans of Italy. Followed by the president of the region Attilio Fontana, the mayor of Varese Davide Galimberti, the prefect Salvatore Pasquariello, the president of the Province of Varese Marco Magrini and the mayor of Marchirolo Emanuele Schipani.
The route of the procession started from Piazza San Vittore, continuing towards the Arco Mera with the laying of the first crown. The second stop was at the beginning of Corso Matteotti, where the second crown was deposited. Finally, the third was positioned in Largo Resistenza, in front of the War Memorial. The procession then went to the Salone Estense, where the protagonists were the words.
The president of Anpi Varese, Rocco Cordì, spoke: «As article 11 of the Constitution says, Italy repudiates war. Today, as ANPI, we launch an appeal to end the bombings in the Gaza Strip and the war in Ukraine and other parts of the world. The only possible voice is only the negotiating table, lowering weapons and talking. We hope that soon the people who are paying the highest price will have their day of liberation. Happy April 25th.”
«Today we remember those who gave us freedom but also those who, thanks to freedom, are unable to live peacefully due to work, remembering article 1 of the Constitution» continued the prefect Salvatore Pasquariello.
«We must remember who built the democratic state. We must continue the work and unify all the people – said Attilio Fontana, recalling in his speech Luciano Violante, former magistrate and politician – 25th April was the first step towards building the new country and the new nation. Then there was June 2nd, the date on which Italians chose the republic instead of the monarchy. Then followed on December 22nd, in which the constituent assembly approved our Constitutional Charter. On 18 April 1948, however, the Italian people, says Violante, chose to side with the Western world, rejecting the Soviet world. These are all fundamental steps in our history of which the most important is the first: the one that gave us freedom. We recognize the values in the Constitution, in which all the Italian people recognize themselves. These values are acquired by our population and must be repeated and renewed so that they do not lose their intensity and value.”
«Today is a very important commemoration – said Marco Magrini, president of the Province of Varese – I borrow the words of the song “Bella Ciao”, reflecting on the first verse: “O partisan take me away”. How difficult it is to be partisan with the new generations and we must be a conduit for them. There are fewer and fewer young people at this type of event. Theirs is not a lack of will, but a lack of solidity and work and political references. Let’s listen to young people, who are looking for justice and answers.”
The final speech instead fell to Mayor Davide Galimberti: «The objective of the institutions is to keep the precepts vigilant and monitor that, faced with the smallest sign of denial of rights and abuses, there is a democratic reaction, as we have seen today and on other occasions, also in our city – stated the mayor – So, long live the 25th of April, the Constitution of Italy and thanks to the citizens of this territory who always remember 25th April 79 years ago”.
The public moment was then enriched by two other important participations: the speech by the Councilor for Culture Enzo Laforgia, who wanted to remember Giacomo Matteotti and the values of the Resistance and followed by the speech by Alice Toschi, focused on the theme of the effects of wars on civilian populations.
