May 1st in Marsala will be the 60th anniversary of the Stagnone massacre. That day which should have been one of joy and lightheartedness for the children of the House of Divine Providence, became a tragedy, with 17 dead and 14 injured.
What happened that day – The Salesian fathers organized a trip to take the Marsala boarders to the island of Mozia. There were around 100 boys accompanied by priests and clerics of the Institute. The departure of three small boats took place from Lido Marinella. The group left with three small boats, the “Giovanni III”, the “Vincenzo” and the “Giuseppe Maria”, the latter helmed by Giovanni Impicciché and on which Don Calogero Falzone and the cleric Vincenzo Sagona, who died in the shipwreck, boarded. In total there were 34 people on the boat, far more than it could carry. The boat, once it took off, did not sail well, became unbalanced due to the movements of the boys and began to take on water on one side. At that point the boys moved to the opposite side to avoid getting wet, the bow lowered more and more, and in a few seconds it capsized. Some boys were injured, many ended up under the boat, the older ones tried to help the younger ones and those most in difficulty.
The names of the 17 victims – These are the names of the 17 victims: Antonino Messina, Carmelo Orlando, Vincenzo Sagona, Giovanni Caravello, Rosario Mugavero, Salvatore Madelio, Domenico Papaleo, Camillo Lo Presti, Paolo Lo Presti, Francesco Ruffino, Domenico Tirrito, Giovanni Tirrito, Michele Borrello, Antonino Ruggirello , Renato Consoli, Vincenzo Capizzi, Michelangelo Turrisi.
The tragedy did not only hit Marsala but many municipalities on the island and beyond – Most of the Salesian boarders who died in that tragedy came from various municipalities in Sicily. The families of those little victims (here is the story of Maria Papaleo, sister of a victim) met in Marsala on the occasion of the 50th anniversary commemoration organized by the Porta d’Ovest Marsala Association, chaired by Nino Ienna who also wrote a book on the disaster: “The angels of the Stagnone“.
60th anniversary and request for the establishment of the “Marsalese Day of Remembrance” – This year on the occasion of the 60th anniversary, the former students of the Casa Divina Provvidenza of Marsala wrote a letter to the mayor of Marsala, with which they announce the commemoration event asking the municipality for its patronage and for the establishment of “Marsasalese day of memory”.
Here is the text of the letter:“We former students of the Casa Divina Provvidenza of Marsala, turn to you, as the only institutional representative of our city, to request official patronage for the imminent anniversary of the 60th anniversary of the shipwreck of 1 May 1964. This commemoration constitutes a moment of profound reflection for our community, since it marks the day in which the greatest disaster of the post-war period occurred in Marsala: 17 young lives lost, all boys whose memory has left an indelible mark on the hearts of all of us because sixteen students and the Salesian cleric all belonged to this praiseworthy Salesian educational institution – and, therefore, to our own personal and associative history – we believed it necessary to reserve in their suffrage a Eucharistic celebration which will significantly take place at the Lega Navale of Marsala, where the relatives of the disappeared will also come together. Furthermore, asking you that May 1st be declared “Marsala Day of Remembrance”, we offer your consideration that solemnly highlighting this date will not only mean honoring the memory of those who perished on that sixty-year-old day. ago, but will also serve to promote a culture of responsibility and safety for the young people of our city. We are certain that the aegis that the Municipal Administration will assume over the event, possibly organizing a sober civil ceremony as a collateral, will give an even more important meaning to our event which in itself has a clear impact on the entire city community, further contributing to guaranteeing the participation of a greater number of people and institutions. We therefore ask that you, as our Mayor, positively welcome our request for official patronage and adequately support us in making this commemoration a moment of reflection, solidarity and compassion for all. While awaiting feedback, which we hope is favourable, we remain at your disposal for any clarification or further information necessary to optimize the collaboration.”
