Republic Day, celebrated this morning, Sunday 2 June, in Varese began with the laying of a laurel wreath at the War Memorial in Piazza della Libertà. The ceremony then continued in the tensile structure of the gardens of Villa Estense, where the honors of merit of the President of the Republic were conferred.
The ceremony was attended by the Prefect of Varese, Salvatore Pasquariello, who underlined that this commemoration represents an opportunity to renew the sense of belonging to the nation and to reaffirm the fundamental democratic values of the Italian Republic.
Present at the presentation of the certificates: Brigadier General Giuseppe Scudieri, Commander of the Support Brigade at (HQ) NRDC-ITA; Brigadier General Crescenzo Sciaraffa, Commander of the Provincial Command of the Guardia di Finanza of Varese; Brigadier General Mario Abate, Provincial Commander of the Varese Fire Brigade; Colonel Marco Gagliardo, Commander of the Carabinieri Provincial Command of Varese; Monsignor Luigi Panighetti, Provost of Varese; the President of the Lombardy Region, Attilio Fontana; the President of the Province of Varese, Marco Magrini; the Mayor of Varese, Davide Galimberti; Prof. Giuseppe Carcano, Director of the Territorial School Office of Varese, together with several mayors of the province of Varese and regional councilors.
The ceremony was enriched by the speech of Prof. Orecchia of the University of Insubria, who outlined the key moments in the history of the Italian Republic. Founded on 2 June 1946 following a popular referendum, it represents a pmarked a crucial turning point in the country’s history, marking the beginning of a new era based on the principles of democracy, freedom, equality and justice. The professor underlined the achievements obtained with the affirmation of popular sovereignty and the guarantee of fundamental rights, sanctioned with the entry into force of the Constitution on 1 January 1948. The latter guaranteed essential rights to citizens, including the right to work, health and freedom.
The ceremony was animated by the choir of the “Isaac Newton” State Institute of Higher Education, which performed numerous songs, including the Italian anthem.
The awards ceremony saw four illustrious personalities from Varese take the stage: Dr Pier-Maria Morresi, awarded the title of Officer, born in Pola and resident in Varese. Morresi obtained a degree in medicine and surgery from the University of Pavia in 1972, subsequently specializing in anesthesiology and resuscitation. From 1974 until his retirement in 2009, he worked as Medical Director at the “Ospedale di Circolo” University Hospital in Varese. He also held the position of President of the “Order of Surgeons and Dentists of the Province of Varese” for fifteen consecutive years, from 1993 to 2008, and is currently President of the National Association of Venezia Giulia and Dalmatia. His commitment is aimed at making known, especially to the new generations, the drama of the Foibe and the Julian Dalmatian exodus. In the “Volunteer Military Corps of the Italian Red Cross”, he served as a Medical Officer, reaching the rank of Medical Lieutenant Colonel, participating in numerous exercises and recalls into service. The honor of Officer recognizes his commitment to volunteering, a lifestyle that constitutes a unanimously recognized distinctive trait.
Lieutenant Dr. Andrea Cannella, awarded the title of Knight, was born in Ascoli Piceno and currently resides in Varese. In 1991 he participated in the 166th Auxiliary Carabinieri Student Course at the Student School of Fossano. Graduated in Political Science and International Relations, Lieutenant Cannella is currently the Commander of the Carabinieri Unit of the Varese Labor Inspectorate. During the lockdown period, he stood out for his tireless commitment and sacrifice, going beyond normal institutional skills and usual working hours. Together with colleagues Capuano and Persico, he guaranteed the basic functionality of the Territorial Labor Inspectorate of Varese, despite the provisions of the local Director which provided for the closure of the offices, the suspension of inspection activities and the adoption of smart working for officials civilians. Throughout his career, Cavaliere Cinnamon has received numerous awards and commendations, always standing out for his exceptional professionalism and high sense of duty.
Lieutenant Dr. Valerio Cerbino awarded the title of Knight, born and resident in Varese in 1989, he attended the 88th Course for Effective Carabinieri Students at the Effective Carabinieri School in Rome. Graduated in Administrative Sciences, he served in the province of Verbania. Since 2019, Lieutenant Cerbino has been Head of the Secretariat and Personnel Section of the Command Office of the Carabinieri Provincial Command of Varese. During the lockdown, his tireless work was fundamental for strategic and prudent management of logistical needs and resources, adequately addressing the pandemic. The collaborative contribution of Lieutenant Cerbino was crucial in quickly resolving the operational, infrastructural and health critical issues of the barracks and staff of the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri of Varese, which has 40 garrisons and almost 800 soldiers. Over the course of his career, he has attended numerous courses, always obtaining excellent results. Thanks to his competence, preparation and human qualities, he carried out even the most delicate tasks with particular sensitivity, receiving numerous commendations and praise.
Prof. Maria Caccia Dominioni, awarded the title of Knight, born in Morbegno (CO) and resident in Varese, she obtained a degree in Foreign Languages and Literatures in 1976. Immediately afterwards, she began teaching at the Middle School of Cocquio Trevisago, where she worked until 1992, also covering the role of Vice Principal. Mother of three children, the youngest, Angelo, was born with a permanent disability. From that moment, she dedicated her life to finding adequate structures to guarantee Angelo the best possible quality of life. At the end of the ’80s, you managed to include Angelo in the first center opened in Varese by “ANFFAS – National Association of Families of People with Relational Intellectual Disabilities”. You collaborated with the President as Vice President, actively contributing to the expansion of the Association. In 1999, together with other ANFFAS members, you co-founded the “Fondazione Renato Piatti Onlus” in Varese, where you held the position of Vice President, supporting numerous children, young people and adults with disabilities and their families.
Delivery of the Silver Medal for Civil Valor to the Selected Assistant of the Local Police of Varese, Francesco Paolo Milana. The Silver Medal for Civil Valor was awarded by Decree of the President of the Republic dated 12 March 2024, with the following motivation: “With exemplary altruism and conscious disregard of danger, while riding the service motorcycle in front of a group of participants at a cycling event, he encountered a car that had improperly entered the race circuit in the opposite direction. Realizing the danger for the runners, he decided not to avoid the impact between the car and his motorcycle, thus managing to stop the vehicle and make the athletes safe, but suffering very serious injuries. Clear example of high civic virtues and extraordinary sense of duty.”
The Order “For Merit of the Italian Republic” is an emblem of excellence and dedication to the service of the nation. Receiving this honor is equivalent to official recognition of one’s value, helping to raise Italy’s prestige on the international stage.
List of names
