The 79th anniversary of the liberation of Ortona began at 10.30 with the homage to the monument "The Price of Peace" in Piazza degli Eroi Canadesi and then we moved to the cemetery where a wreath was laid by the mayor Leo Castiglione at the Civil War Memorial.
The monument recalls the dramatic events of the Battle of Ortona, in the Second World War, fought between 20 and 28 December 1943, during which the city was almost completely destroyed and 1.314 civilians lost their lives. For these circumstances the city was awarded the Gold Medal for Civil Valor in 1959 with the following motivation:
"Noble city of the Abruzzi, of ancient patriotic traditions, courageously endured, during the last conflict, appalling air and land bombardments, suffering the loss of 1314 of its children and the destruction of most of its monumental and building heritage. With very proud demeanor intrepidly resisted the abuses of the invaders in arms, never bending in her most pure faith in a better, free and democratic Italy.She did her utmost with a mother's heart in helping the wounded and suffering, affirming, in the horrors of war, the highest spirit of human solidarity. September '43-June '44".
The morning ended with the celebration of a Holy Mass officiated by the Archbishop of Lanciano Ortona mons. Emidio Cipollone at the adjacent memorial to the civilian victims, which was attended by the local civil and military authorities and military and military associations.
