PRAYER – The National Gathering is the most important event in the associative life of an Alpine soldier. For many of them the year is not the solar year but is the one between one gathering and another. It is particularly true for the Alpine troops of the Preganziol group who this year too, under the distinctive theme “The Alpini’s Dream of Peace” they will set off towards Vicenza to participate in the 95th National Alpine Gathering which will be held from 10 to 12 May. On May 7, 10 black feathers on foot will leave at 8.45 am from the “Giovanni XXIII” elementary school in Preganziol and after a short ceremony, in which the students, the Headmaster and the mayor will also participate, they will proceed along the route of approximately 85 kilometers towards Altavilla Vicenza.
The “base camp” will be established there and they will be hosted by the local ANA Group “The march on the occasion of the Gathering is not something new for us and everything was planned in advance, also involving some ANA groups along the route which will host the Preganziol marchers for the night” Comments Valter Aiolo, Preganziol Group Leader. The stages: 7/5 Piombino Dese, 8/5 Villa Del Conte, 9/5 Torri di Quartesolo and 10/5 arrival in Altavilla Vicentina. The evening stops will not only serve to recover strength for the following day, but will become real “events” of aggregation, celebration and above all of memory, with ceremonies organized to remember those who have “moved forward”, involving citizens, Alpini and numerous children from local schools. The walkers will be followed by two support vehicles with everything necessary for the 4 days of walking. Those who do not participate in the march will dedicate themselves to hosting the Alpini of the Manlio Feruglio barracks in Venzone in a stage of their “Road to Vicenza” https://www.gruppo8rgtalpini.it/road-to-vicenza/. With the aim of making the Gathering even more special, 10 active Alpine soldiers, two-wheel enthusiasts, will leave by bicycle on May 7th from Venzone to reach Vicenza on the 10th.
On May 8th they will stop in Preganziol with an expected arrival around 1pm. “The partnership with the Alpini of Venzone and their group leader Gianluca Melillo began a couple of years ago precisely on the occasion of a National Gathering – continues the group leader of the black feathers of Preganziol – It will be a real pleasure for us to embrace them, spend time time with them and lay flowers in memory of Captain Manlio Feruglio, at his birthplace, after whom the Venzone Barracks and our Alpini House are named.” The ceremony was set for 4.00 pm on May 8th with the presence of the Mayor and delegations from the other neighboring ANA groups. On May 10th “general mobilization” with the departure of the rest of the group and the choristers who will join the marchers who left on the 7th in Altavilla Vicentina. There they will find Giuseppe Faggioni, group leader of Altavilla, and his Alpini, who welcome them for the 3 days of the National Gathering. Already on the evening of the 10th the Preganziol choir will perform in concert in Tavernelle di Altavilla and then repeat the following day in the Church of San Rocco in Vicenza waiting to participate in the great parade on Sunday 12th, the culmination of the three days for the black feathers . “A great celebration made up of meetings, memories, songs and cultural initiatives, which aims to be a testimony to the meaning of being Alpine, to keep our tradition, our spirit alive and above all an opportunity to honor the sacrifice and dedication of those who served in the past” concludes Valter Aiolo on behalf of the black feathers of Preganziol.
