It was a Saturday, a warm and sunny spring Saturday, that April 10, 1943, and although Italy had been at war for some years and despite being and living, as soldiers and civilians, inside a military stronghold, everything in La Maddalena and Palau was more or less peaceful.

There was no indication that this would be an afternoon of blood, pain, death and destruction. Yesterday that tragic day was solemnly commemorated with a triple ceremony in memory of those who lost their lives: 77 soldiers who were part of the crew of the Royal Cruiser Trieste (74 were seriously injured), surprised that day at anchor by the American air force , under Monte Altura, in the Baia della Sciumara.

In recent days, a bronze monument had been anchored in the Sciumara bay at a depth of 12 meters and about 250 from the ground, depicting a winged angel leaning towards the other, as a perennial reminder of the 77 officers, non-commissioned officers and sailors of the cruiser who lost their lives there.

Yesterday, on the other hand, the first part of the ceremony took place on the Orione ship, with the re-enactment of the events and the launching of a laurel wreath into the sea, blessed by Bishop Sebastiano Sanguinetti, in the presence of the mayor of Palau, Franco Manna, of that of La Maddalena, Fabio Lai, and Admiral Enrico Pacioni, commander of Marina Ovest.

The commemoration then continued in the church of Palau where a plaque bearing the names of all the cruiser's fallen was unveiled.

Then the procession to the Sciumara beach, where the two mayors and the admiral himself gave their speeches.

The event was accompanied by performances by the Band of the Sassari Brigade and the Fanfare of the Northern Maritime Command.

The event was created and financed jointly by the municipal administrations of Palau and La Maddalena.