The city of Cosenzathrough the Culture commission of the Municipality of Cosenza, chaired by Mimmo Frammartinopaid homage, in the council chamber of Palazzo dei Bruzi – the welcome greeting was pronounced by the President of the Municipal Council Giuseppe Mazzuca – to three great Cosenza members of the Carabinieri who made the history not only of their corps, but of the entire country. I’m the General Filippo Carusooriginally from Casole Bruzio, today Casali del Manco, the General Francesco Valentini and the Colonel Giuseppe Russoboth natives of Cosenza. For the work carried out in command of the Carabinieri partisan formations and for his heroic behavior in the face of the German invader, Filippo Caruso was decorated with the Gold Medal for Military Valor. It is remembered that after a furious fight with the enemy, he managed to swallow documents compromising the lives of his most direct collaborators. General Francesco Valentini, however, was engaged on the front line in the fight against terrorism and the mafia. In 1978 he was also deputy of General Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, in a special anti-terrorism unit. Among the forerunners in the fight against the mafia, Colonel Giuseppe Russo particularly distinguished himself as Commander of the investigative unit which operated in very high risk environments. His courage and high professional ability are proverbial. He was murdered in a cowardly mafia ambush in August 1977, sacrificing his existence to the noble ideals of justice and defense of democratic institutions. “Three figures not only to remember, but to point out to the new generations as an example to follow”. Thus the Mayor of Cosenza Franz Caruso, who spoke at the event promoted by the Culture Commission in collaboration with the UNUCI (National Union of Officers on Leave). The mayor thanked the Culture Commission and its President Mimmo Frammartino “who with the memory of the three illustrious Cosenza soldiers – said Franz Caruso – also wanted to translate into concrete facts one of the values that inspire our Administration: legality. Our municipal administration – Franz Caruso underlined – is based on three pillars: legality, transparency and solidarity, but legality comes first because it is important that it is reaffirmed on every occasion, in a land like ours which still suffers from many delays in several sectors. Unfortunately, one of the brakes on development – Franz Caruso remarked – is the invasive and conditioning presence of organized crime and corruption. And so it is important to send a significant message from our institutions, because otherwise the memory and commemoration of men of value such as General Caruso, General Valentini and Colonel Russo will lose the time they find, but, instead, those examples and those stories must serve to make people understand how important the work they have carried out is to defend the freedom which, today more than before, must be protected and defended in the world. Democracy is a prerequisite for freedom, because where there is no democracy there is no freedom. And we must take inspiration from these examples to carry out legal action that serves to defend all freedoms and our democracy.” Franz Caruso considered it absolutely important that the commemorative event took place in the headquarters of the most important city institution which is the Town Hall and, moreover, in the City Council, “where – said the Mayor – there are the democratically elected expressions in our city. The message that must start from this initiative – he reiterated – is precisely the one that goes in the direction of respect for the rules of civil life which are transformed into the defense of freedoms”. He then recalled a family bond with General Filippo Caruso who boasts the same territorial origins as the Mayor. “My father – said Franz Caruso – proudly claimed this kinship relationship with General Filippo Caruso, a hero of the Carabinieri. Several times the “Grippo” Barracks invited me to do an in-depth study. Even though I haven’t looked into the matter in depth, my father has also transferred that pride of this small family belonging to the Carabinieri to me and it is no coincidence that I have a particularly intense relationship with the Carabinieri and I am honored to continue this institutional relationship because the force is truly one of the most important safeguards for our protection, our safety and for legality. He who has no history has no future. And the Army is our history and our future.” In addition to the Mayor of Cosenza Franz Caruso, also present at the ceremony was the Mayor of Casali del Manco (which was the birthplace of General Filippo Caruso, a native of Casole Bruzio) Francesca Pisani. “We are here today to remember General Caruso, General Valentini and Lieutenant Colonel Russo. To remember what they did, but above all what they sowed. We owe them what we are, our Republic, our democracy and our values. In the uniform that every Carabiniere wears there is the history of those who preceded him. There are General Caruso, General Valentini and Lieutenant Colonel Russo. There is their example. And we are here today to remember them because only in this way can we pass it on to those who come after us. Their heroism – concluded Francesca Pisani – continues to inspire our country and we will always carry it with us, committing ourselves to passing it on, first and foremost to the new generations”. Among the various testimonies that alternated during the morning, in presence and with video messages, particularly significant was that of the provincial Commander of the Carabinieri, Andrea Mommo, who recalled the strong bond of the Carabinieri, founded in 1814, with the territory . “Today an important cross-section of three men who brought prestige to the province of Cosenza is outlined – underlined Colonel Mommo -. The trait d’union – he added – that links these three figures lies in the passion with which they carried out their work, showing great strength and particular charisma, qualities that must be passed on to the new generations”. After recalling the courage of General Filippo Caruso, the provincial commander of the Carabinieri outlined a profile of General Francesco Valentini, “a man of silence who loved being behind the scenes and who was General Dalla Chiesa’s deputy during the dark years of terrorism.” Of Colonel Russo, the Provincial Commander Mommo underlined that “he managed to identify, before being murdered, those among the Corleonesi who contributed to the coordination of the massacre actions in Italy”. The event, which was attended among others by the President of the Anti-Darngheta Commission of the Calabria Region, Pietro Molinaro and some family members of the three commemorated officers, then continued with a series of speeches by as many speakers who further outlined the figure of the three illustrious Cosenza members of the Carabinieri. The works were moderated by Sante Blasi, of the UNUCI section of Cosenza.
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