Exactly on the night between today and tomorrow eighty years ago, Grosseto was made free. That same freedom that is guaranteed to everyone today cost six more men their lives.
Taking a step back to remember, between 14 and 15 June 1944 some formations of the Garibaldi Brigade arrived in the city, settling in the main institutional headquarters, including the municipal building, the Prefecture and the Police Headquarters. At dawn on 15 June the rest of the city was liberated from the fascists, an operation in which however the six partisans who allowed Grosseto to become the first liberated Tuscan capital lost their lives. Yesterday, anticipating the start of the work of the Municipal Council, the ceremony was held to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the city of Grosseto, in the presence of the highest local authorities and the representatives of Isgrec and the Anpi provincial committee “Norma Parenti “. A ceremony that brought the municipal administration and the partisans’ association side by side, between which some sparks had ignited in the recent past.
None of this, yesterday morning, in a ceremony shared in terms of manner and content, as it must be in the face of such an important moment in history.
“Celebrating the Liberation – says the Prime Minister, Fausto Turbanti – means honoring the heritage of values and ideals that are the basis of our society and our democracy. We cannot and must not lower our guard because the concepts of freedom, democracy and peace are conquests that have cost many human lives”.
“Eighty years ago – says the mayor Antonfrancesco Vivarelli Colonna – Grosseto freed itself with pride, determination and tenacity from the Nazi-fascist occupation. The liberation occupied difficult and fearful days, in those moments someone wrote history, made up of a life that defeat death to be free to express oneself.”
“It must be – explains the president of the Province Francesco Limatola – a day of warning for everyone, because anti-fascism was a consequence and because evil never comes suddenly, as history teaches. Remembering means remembering, reconfirming the values “.
“It is not the task of the Anpi to tell the story – concludes the provincial president of the association Luciano Calì –, while it is its task not to make people forget the historical heritage which is a moral commitment. I am happy to be in the board room for the anniversary, in front of the councilors and president of the council who called this ceremony”.
Before the conclusion of the speech, there is a veiled clarification. “When you administer public affairs – says Calì –, the gesture of responsibility is not made towards oneself but towards the community that is served”.
Maria Vittoria Gaviano
