Almost a century has passed since that time June 16, 1926 when, in the presence of the prince Umberto of Savoyof numerous authorities and of the benefactress Giovanna Azzaroli, theasylum for his childhood, so dear to the people of Sant’Agata who bears the same surname. Since then, historical events have followed one another incessantly: the war who devastated the building, the reconstructionthe countless transformations of society and school.
The Santerno flood overwhelmed the kindergarten: solidarity competition for reconstruction
The May 17, 2023here is another date to remember, here is another different but no less devastating war than the last: the ruinous flood with the “route” of the river Santerno: the Municipality of St. Agatha on the Santerno among the most damaged in Romagna. The anguish and sense of helplessness of the first days, the rescue, the solidarity of many, raising their heads and rolling up their sleeves marked the beginning of one rebirth albeit slow and tiring as has always happened in the history of this country. The Azzaroli kindergarten had been one of the most affected, but solidarity immediately arose combined with the overbearing desire of the ransom. With diligence and determination, the president of the Foundation for 35 years, Don Renzo Tarlazzi and the engineer Luigi Antonio Amadei assisted by Ignazio Montalti and Lorenzo Ricci, they immediately thought of the renovation which happened in time record. Within a few months the nursery became usable and reopened in November, also hosting the nursery still in the recovery phase. Last April 20th theofficial inauguration: “A celebration to say thank you”, here is the title given to this special day. “With this event we open ours school to all the people, organizations, associations and foundations who helped us rebuild it – underlined the director Caterina Castellari – a day of joyenriched by children’s songs and a way to express ours again thanks to those who helped us in every way possible: shoveling mud, organizing fundraisers, donating furniture and materials, offering us financial aid.” The morning took place in a great atmosphere participation from all those present, approximately two hundred people between parents, relatives, friends, Alpini, men of the Civil Protection even from outside the region, in memory of those terrible days. The interventions of the authorities alternated with the joyful songs of the children with the inevitable “My Romagna”. Don Renzo Tarlazzi, the mayor Enea Emiliani , Francesca Battisti president of the “Growth Project”, Antonio Buzzi president of the Coop. “The Furrow”, Mauro Neri president of “Confcooperative Romagna”, until the arrival of the president of the Region, Stefano Bonaccini who cut the ribbon together with mayor Enea Emiliani, a Giacomo Vici general director of “Il Solco” and to Don Renzo Tarlazzi who proceeded to bless the school. President Bonaccini warmly congratulated those who, despite the sadness of the moment, found the strength to move forward, praising the indomitable character of the people of Romagna who, while “wiping away their tears with one hand, shoveled away with the other mud.” The operators of “Video Regione” took steps to immortalize the important, historic event of the first duly renovated public building in the country, albeit at the cost of enormous sacrifices.
Armanda Capucci
