So many stories and so many characters that have alternated in this period of time starting with General Mario Epifano, the "President" of GRIFO. The one who started this quarter-century ride and, not surprisingly, the one to whom GRIFO is entitled.
GRIFO arises from the experience gained by some members of the UNUCI (National Union Officials on Leave of Italy, ed) of Perugia in the participation in patrol competitions in northern Italy but, above all, abroad (France, Germany and Switzerland) on the end of the 80 years.
So it was that in 1990 we tried to put in place the first edition of the race but the then "Board of Directors" of the UNUCI Section of Perugia rejected the proposal that, fortunately, was accepted the following year.
In 1991 then, with the support of the then 92 ° "Basilicata" of Foligno the first edition of the competition could be organized in that of Colfiorito, taking advantage of the structures of the then base logistics. In this first edition the accident occurred to a member of a patrol that was jumping a moot. The exceptionality was not so much in the slight ankle injury as in the fact that the injured was an eighty year old!
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Over the years the race has naturally evolved and has changed its contents and locations finding hospitality in many municipalities of Umbria (Perugia, Corciano, Magione, Passignano sul Trasimeno, Tuoro sul Trasimeno, Castiglione del Lago, Panicale, Piegaro, Massa Martana) with patrols from almost all regions of Italy (with the sole exception of Sardinia, Valle d'Aosta, Basilicata, Liguria).
Many curious episodes that have "tempered" the serious character of the training activity and the final ceremony. Yes, because in addition to the technical-military aspects and the deferential tribute to the fallen of the town that hosts us, GRIFO has always been a goliardic environment and also a meeting of old friends.
How can we not remember that patrol that was recovered out of the way during the nighttime phase, that day and that ... even wrong in the car on the way back home?
Or that patrol that camouflaged at all points tries to infiltrate the lens in the middle of the night and runs into a secluded couple in a more than affectionate attitude?
What about the checkpoint organized in a side street with a lot of signs, traffic channeling, personnel with helmets and bulletproof vests and the cars of the villagers who stared at the car occupants (our actors) who were searched?
Or even the lady, all alarmed by the presence of soldiers and the red cross who was wearing a wounded for the first aid test?
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Many anecdotes like the Carabinieri gazelle that stops a military patrol in service and asks him: "where are you going?" And the commander who candidly replies: "we are going to blow up the Trinity repeaters1, do you want to see the explosive? ".
Many happy stories but also serious stories when during one of the countless reconnaissance we came across two majolica tiles that commemorated two fallen soldiers of the First World War. The tiles were on the wall of two country houses now abandoned and in ruins. They were recovered and now they have been repositioned in the monuments to the fallen of the localities where they lived and never returned.
But beyond that GRIFO has also been a great moment of meeting with the voluntary associations of the places that have hosted us (Civil Protection Groups, Red Cross, Public Assistance) and this has created bonds of mutual esteem and synergies as far as concerns the courses of topography and orientation that, by now, UNUCI Perugia keeps in support of these associations.
If we were to draw a balance of these twenty-five years we would say that the most beautiful thing is above all the fact of having achieved valuable synergies in the local area between UNUCI, Volunteering Associations and Associations as well as the bonds of friendship close in all these years with the participants coming from every part of Italy.
Maurizio Cini
1 A location near Perugia
Click here to download the competition program
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