Those who, on Sunday evening, on the stage of the “Curci” theater in Barletta, were awarded the title of Knights of the Republic on the occasion of the celebrations of 2 June, to commemorate the birth of the republican system after the 1946 referendum.
They are ordinary citizens, the only woman, Maria Sterpeta Mennuni, is a retired nurse, and everyone knows her in Barletta for having been a long-lived and constant blood donor, but there are also teachers, doctors, journalists, representatives of the forces of order and military, entrepreneurs, firefighters and a diplomat. The celebrations began in the morning in Andria, with the solemn flag raising and the laying of a laurel wreath to the fallen of all wars.
The ceremony
In the evening in Barletta the joint honor picket took place, in Corso Vittorio Emanuele, and the review of the troops by the Prefect Silvana D’Agostino, with local institutional representatives, the banners of the Bat municipalities and the banners of the fighting associations and weapons and a representation of the local Bersaglieri. After the parade, the students of the “Casardi” musical high school welcomed them in the theater with the performance of the national anthem.
The Prefect
The message from the President of the Republic was read by the prefect Silvana D’Agostino and the children of the WokAut Lavoro e Autism cooperative read an extract from Piero Calamandrei’s “Speech on the Constitution”. Immediately afterwards there was the delivery of the honors of Merit of the Italian Republic, granted by President Sergio Mattarella. For each, the motivation for the prestigious and coveted recognition, between emotion and joy.
«Proud» for her first Republic Day as Prefect of the Bat Silvana D’Agostino, who took office only two weeks ago. «I wanted to promote a ceremony that was more inclusive and open to citizens, in the streets of Barletta we organized a small parade to allow citizens to greet and meet, on this day of celebration, all the representatives of the State team who compete every day to the well-being of the community”.
