This morning, like every year, the highest civil and military officials gathered in Piazza Vittorio Veneto in Palermo to pay homage to the fallen of the Second World War and to the 78th anniversary of the Italian Republic Day. The ceremony opened with the national anthem and the flag raising ceremony. Laying the wreath alongside the mayor of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, the prefect Massimo Mariani, the Commander of the Joint Military Garrison, Division General Maurizio Angelo Scardino and the regional councilor Nunzia Albano.
In the square in front of the monument to the fallen there were also the standard bearers and the banners of the fighting and weapons associations. Another event of the day was held at the Politeama Theater where the Fanfare of the XII Carabinieri Regiment performed and introduced the awarding of the honors of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. The former Prosecutor General of the Republic Giovanna Ilarda and the consultant of the general management of Ismett Ugo Palazzo were appointed commendators. During the ceremony, prizes were also awarded to the winning students of the competition called “Freedom of the Press and Culture of Legality”, reserved for educational institutions of all levels, organized by the Prefecture, in collaboration with the Regional School Office, the Order of Journalists of Sicily and the Sicilian Press Association. The Sperone Pertini schools of Palermo were awarded; the Gianni Rodari of Villabate and the Umberto I classical high school of Palermo.
During the ceremony the performance of the Mameli anthem was entrusted to the fanfare of the XII Sicily Carabinieri Regiment, with the musical contribution of the students of the Conservatory and enriched by the artistic performance of the students of the dance high school of the Regina Margherita state teaching institute. The honors awarded: officer of the Order of Merit of the Republic to Giuseppe Costanza, IT expert of the Ministry of Justice. Knight of the Order of Merit of the Republic: Salvatore Barranco, non-commissioned officer of the Carabinieri; Filippo Barreca, Officer, Lt. Col. Carabinieri; Bernardo Campo, executive officer of the Sicilian Region; Francesco Cassataro, deputy police commissioner; Carlo Cesari, non-commissioned officer of the Carabinieri; Alessandro Chiolo, teacher; Grazia Crescimanno, surgeon-researcher; Calcedonio Di Pasquale, non-commissioned officer of the Carabinieri; Gennaro Favilla, officer of the Financial Police; Emilio Filardi, administrative officer of the Ministry of the Interior; Carmelo Filippone, non-commissioned officer of the Carabinieri; Giorgio Fusco, Army non-commissioned officer; Francesco Giannone, IT technical assistant of the army; Erich Granata, provincial commander of the Ragusa Fire Brigade; Stefano Guggino, deputy police commissioner; Gaetano Iudicello, Officer of the Financial Police; Carlo Uberto Massimo, Colonel of the Army; Concetta Mauro Martinez, president of the “Quarto Savona 15” Association; Giuseppe Merendino, director of the provincial command of the Palermo Fire Brigade; Ignazio Palmeri, non-commissioned officer of the Carabinieri; Giuseppe Salvatore Tavolacci, Deputy Police Commissioner.
Fabio Gigante
