The honors of the order of merit of the Italian Republic were awarded by the prefect of Palermo Massimo Mariani, during the ceremony for the Republic Day which took place at the gloomy Politeama-Garibaldi.
The government representative paid tribute to all those who fell at the hands of the mafia while carrying out their duty, not forgetting the victims of accidents at work and inviting young people to follow the ideals of freedom and justice.
The awards went to Giuseppe Costanza, the only survivor of the Capaci attack on 23 May 1992, who was awarded the honor of officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic. Among those honored was also Tina Mauro Martinez, widow of Falcone’s escort leader Antonio Montinaro, who was awarded the honor of knighthood for her civic commitment and social activity carried out through the Quarto Savona Diecici association of which he is president. Two “Victim of Terrorism” awards were also presented.
Gold medal in memory to the chosen agent of the state police, Antonio Montinaro, head of the escort of judge Giovanni Falcone, who died in the Capaci massacre of 23 May 1992 in which judge Giovanni Falcone lost their lives with his wife Francesca Morvillo and his colleagues of the escort, agents Vito Schifani and Rocco Dicillo. Gold Medal to the 1st corporal major of the Italian army, Giuseppe D’Anna, who was seriously injured during a mission in Afghanistan, on 8 August 2012, due to an explosion caused by an explosive device during a motorized patrol activity . Finally, a Gold Medal for Civil Merit went to the memory of Rosario Fabio Oddo. During the fire in the apartment where he was sleeping with his family, after having brought his pregnant wife to safety, he returned to the house to help his 5-year-old son. Having noticed the impossibility of walking down the stairs now invaded by flames, he wrapped the child in a blanket and, shielding him with his own body, threw himself from a second floor window, saving his son and losing his life.
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