The video at the bottom of the page
The Videodocumentary “Neptune, Stories of Freedom” made on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of the Allied Landing by Trident Film and edited by the Tourism Department of the Municipality of Nettuno was presented this morning at the Council Chamber of the Municipality of Nettuno. The video traces the history of the Allied Landing thanks to the contribution of the historian Silvano Casaldi, but not only. At the center of the documentary are the testimonies of those who lived them firsthand thanks to the videos granted by the La Tamerice Association and the story of two symbols of our city and their relationship with American soldiers: Neptune’s wine and Baseball .
On this occasion, the Administration also wanted to remember Franco Verlezza, who passed away yesterday, second base of Neptune Baseball in the post-war period and member of the “Nine Golden Men” who made the history of Italian baseball by winning five consecutive championships.
“On this day in which we celebrate the 78th anniversary of the Landing which falls on January 22 – said Mayor Alessandro Coppola – I want to reflect a little while ago at the American cemetery where I went to pay homage to the men and women who gave their lives for our freedom. I would like to remember with all of you the essence of this event, the people who came from a distant country and fell to give us democracy. I also want to remember all those who have helped us to know our piece of history thanks to their testimonies and their dissemination work and who have left us. I think above all of Antonio Taurelli who dedicated his life to this purpose, especially meeting young people in schools. Thanks to Antonio. His memory is always alive in all of us. I thank all the authorities who took part here today, but first of all I want to thank the deputy mayor with responsibility for tourism Alessandro Mauro and the councilor for culture Camilla Ludovisi for the projects they created to celebrate the 78th anniversary of the Landing “.
In the presence of the military authorities of the Polygon and the Port Authority of Anzio, the day began with the viewing of the winning videos of the school competition dedicated to Antonio Taurelli.
“This award – declares the Councilor for Culture Camilla Ludovisi – is the result of the awareness of history. We must learn from history in order not to repeat the mistakes of the past. When we thought about this competition, I shared with the mayor the idea of dedicating it to Antonio Taurelli. It is a prize of the entire administration without a majority and opposition. Dedicating it to him depends on the fact that he wanted to pass on his experiences and his story to today’s young people. We would like this award to be carried forward also by future administrations “.
At the end of the viewing of the videos made by classes III of IC Nettuno III and class 5 ^ A ELE of Itis Trafelli, the municipal administration honored the Taurelli family with a commemorative plaque.
“Thank you for having collected the moral legacy of my grandfather – declares the municipal councilor Antonio Taurelli – I am impressed to perceive great collective emotion in the face of this event. My grandfather was mostly a Neptunese, and with a handful of boys he managed to make Neptune enter history, participating as a civilian in the landing operations. One anecdote in particular sums up his story, when he finds himself in front of the Americans and tells his younger cousin: tell mom I’m going with the Americans. An ordinary boy who is faced with a difficult, dramatic choice that can cost him his life. Last year, at the age of 95, he decided to be at the American cemetery to remember this day. As a municipality we have an obligation to remember and pass on these memories. Thank you, really thank you all “.
The day continued with the first viewing of the documentary video “78th Anniversary of the Landing – Neptune Stories of Freedom” by the Tourism Department of the Municipality of Nettuno.
“I want to thank the military authorities present here today – declares the deputy mayor with delegation to Tourism Alessandro Mauro – and I take this opportunity to thank all the municipal councilors and members of the council present here in the room: the municipal councilors Antonello Mazza, Enrica Vaccari, Waldemaro Marchiafava, Luca Ranucci and the commissioner Maddalena Noce. In particular, I thank the members of the Tourism Commission, many of whom are present in the room, from the president Massimiliano Rognoni to the members Marco Federici, Mauro Rizzo, Martina Armocida, Genesio D’Angeli, Ilaria Bartoli with the addition of the director Roberto Alicandri who he has often and actively participated in the works. This video is the result of full synergy, with no distinction whatsoever between the majority and the opposition who collaborated in an effective and profitable way to celebrate the most important page in the history of our city in the best possible way. I thank Silvano Casaldi for his historic contribution, the Trident Film who made the video, the La Tamerice Association who provided the testimony of those who survived the war, the manager of the Tourism Area Dr. Gianluca Faraone, the manager of the Culture Area Dr. Margherita Camarda, the American Cemetery of Neptune, all the press present without forgetting the Culture, Tourism and Communication Offices that worked on the program for the 78th anniversary of the Landing. Thanks to the Councilor for Culture Camilla Ludovisi, who has collaborated with me in recent months, for the Antonio Taurelli award dedicated to schools and an affectionate greeting to the Taurelli family present here for whom we have tried to pay homage in the best way possible the figure of grandfather Taurelli and his priceless historical dissemination operation that he carried out throughout his life “.
To close the day the presentation of the book “We are not Heroes” by the historian Silvano Casaldi a copy of which, together with a copy of the DVD “Neptune, Stories of Freedom” which will also be delivered to all the schools of Neptune, was donated to military authorities intervened, the La Tamerice Association and the Taurelli family.
The video documentary “Neptune, Stories of Freedom” will be visible on the social channels of the organization as well as the winning videos of the “Antonio Taurelli” competition dedicated to schools.
Tomorrow the commemoration for the 78th anniversary of the landing is scheduled with the institutional ceremony in the presence of the civil and military authorities of the territory at 11 at the Monument to the fallen in Piazza Cesare Battisti.
On the FACEBOOK page of the municipality and on the YOUTUBE channel
of the Municipality of Nettuno the videodocumentary “78th anniversary of the Landing – Neptune Stories of Freedom” by the Department of Tourism of the Municipality of Nettuno. Tomorrow morning the winning videos of the “Antonio Taurelli” school competition will be published on the same channels
At the following link it is possible to download the winning video for the SECONDARY SCHOOLS section – “Remember not to forget” of the III classes of the IC Neptune III and the Winning Video for the SECONDARY SCHOOLS section – “The landing that has changed the history of our territory ”of the Class 5 ^ A ELE of Itis Luigi Trafelli and the videos https://we.tl/t-AFLJI3TF9j
