Last September 14 the Ana has inaugurated in Russia the "Bridge of Alpine Friendship", donated by the Association to the population of Livenka (current name of Nikolajewka). Right on that bridge, in the 1943, the retreating Alpine passes from the Don's front continued their strenuous march to Italy, to be able to return home. Coinciding with the inauguration, the Association wanted to pay homage to the Fallen in Russia in the 75 anniversary of the battle of Nikolajewka and celebrate the 25 ° of the Asylum Smile, donated twenty-five years ago by the Association to the population of Rossosch, which was of the Command of the Alpine Corps.
"This new gift made to the Russian population is a real but also ideal and metaphorical figure as a symbol of friendship between us and the Russian people. Once we had come from invaders but through these initiatives we came back from friends and these signs are there to testify to our will that wants to be forever", These are the words of the president of Anna Sebastiano Favero on the occasion of the inauguration of the bridge, in the presence of the leaders of the Association and the commander of the Alpine General Troops Claudio Berto.
The bridge, designed by Zeta Ingegneria technical project of the national councilor Luciano Zanelli and on structural calculations of Inte.co Srl is in steel, has a length of 12 meters on a single span, the width of 6 and the height of 4. On the parapets are depicted of the alpini marching to remember the tragic retreat and the Ana logo and the emblem of the city of Livenka have been added. The realization was carried out by Cimolai Spa, a highly specialized company in metal constructions, whose owner, Armando, wanted to remember with his work his brother Giovanni, 1919 class, alpine in the 12ª Tolmezzo company, back from the Russian and Greek fronts Albanian.
From San Quirino (Pordenone) where the 2 December last year was blessed by the Bishop of Concordia-Pordenone Msgr. Giuseppe Pellegrini, the bridge was transported to Russia and then assembled and assembled by Alpine volunteers under the technical direction of the alpine Giovanmaria Rizzi, an expert entrepreneur in the sector.
The three days was an important moment to remember the alpine in a symbol of the retreat, but also to renew that spirit of solidarity, a harbinger of friendship and collaboration among peoples.
