27 years have passed since that terrible afternoon of 16 August 1995, when the Sardinian carabinieri Walter Frau and Ciriaco Carru were killed by ruthless criminals in the locality of Ped'e Semene near Ozieri. The first, born in Ossi but resident in Porto Torres, was 30 years old at the time, the second, originally from Bitti, but resident in Chiaramonti, was 32.
This morning, as has happened every year since their killing, their sacrifice was honored and remembered in Ped'e Semene.
Present military and institutional authorities . The Carabinieri were represented by the provincial commander Colonel Dionisio De Masi, the commander of the Compagnia di Ozieri captain Andrea Asuni and the marshal of Ozieri Giovanni Ara, in addition to the grand guard of honor. Inspector Domenico Chirizzi participated for the State Police. For the institutions, the municipality of Porto Torres was represented by the mayor Massimo Mulas, that of Ozieri by the mayor Marco Peralta, while the councilor Antonio Busellu participated in the municipality of Chiaramonti. The family members of the two soldiers were also present. The religious function was officiated by Don Francesco Ledda, from the parish of San Nicola in Ozieri.
There was a lot of emotion among those present, in a simple but highly emotional ceremony. The memorial stones of the two soldiers were also changed this morning. And at the end of the ceremony, a painting with the portrait of the two carabinieri killed, painted by the retired Sardinian brigadier Pier Giuseppe Dore, was donated to the Carabinieri.
HISTORY - Walter Frau and Ciriaco Farru on August 16, 1995 intercepted in the locality of Ped'e Semene a cement mixer stolen by bandits that would have served to block the road to vans carrying valuables along the Olbia-Sassari road. They arrested a thug, but were attacked with Kalashnikov shots by other members of the gang. A storm of lead to which the two carabinieri responded with service pistols. A bandit was also killed in the firefight. The rest of the gang was then captured by the carabinieri.
"For me it was the first time I attended the ceremony - comments the recently elected mayor of Ozieri Marco Peralta -. It was a great emotion in honor of two patriots who sacrificed themselves to defend legality".