A heartfelt and well-attended ceremony took place in Capoterra to commemorate the Fallen. Before residents, civil and military authorities, and associations, the mayor delivered a powerful speech, marked by gratitude, remembrance, and the value of peace.
"Today we say a simple but meaningful word: thank you," the mayor began, paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the country's freedom and to the families of the veterans present. Thanks were also extended to the Armed Forces and Law Enforcement, "who represent not only the security of the state, but a daily example of dedication and peace."
The ceremony took on a particularly moving tone in memory of the three Carabinieri recently killed in Castel d'Azzano—Marco Piffari, Valerio Daprà, and Davide Bernardello—and of Police Officer Aniello Scarpati, who died recently in Torre del Greco. "Our most sincere gratitude goes to those who serve the State with silent courage," the mayor emphasized.
He then turned his attention to the international scene, marked by wars and humanitarian crises. "The wars are not over, and this saddens us. We still see suffering and destruction in Ukraine, Gaza, and other parts of the world. Peace is fragile, and there can be no free people if another is oppressed," he warned, calling on the community to be "guardians of memory and artisans of hope."
The focal point of the ceremony was the reading of an imaginary letter written by a young soldier, Stefano, from the front: a touching tale of fear, loneliness, friendship, and resilience, capturing the humanity behind the uniform and the idea of sacrifice beyond formal celebrations. These words moved those present, and the mayor chose to offer them "to remind us that behind every name engraved in stone lies a heart, a story, a broken dream."
The mayor concluded with an appeal, addressed especially to young people: "Homeland is not an abstract concept, but our home, our family, the land where our roots grow. Defending it means defending what we love."
“Remembering the fallen,” he added, “means transforming memory into responsibility, renewing every day our commitment to freedom, justice, and solidarity.”
The ceremony concluded with a heartfelt tribute to the fallen and the mayor's final words: "Long live our Armed Forces. Long live National Unity. Long live Italy."