This morning, at 11:30, in Cittanova, the ceremony took place in memory of the 38th anniversary of the murder of Deputy Brigadier Mavm Rosario Ioziawhich has remained the victim of incidentory fire action in Petrara of the Municipality of Cittanova in April 1987.
The event, in the presence of family members and brigadier general Riccardo SciutoCommander of the “Calabria” Carabinieri Legion, brought together the highest military and civil authorities, the representatives of the territorial weapon and the National Carabinieri Association, with the heartfelt participation of the municipal administration. At first, a brief moment of recollection was held at the stone erected at the place of the massacre of the decorated, with the deposition of a laurel wreath and a flower pillow donated by the ANC – Taurianova section.
Following, at 12:00, the celebration of the Holy Mass, at the local “Matrix Church”, officiated by the military chaplain Don Aldo Ripepi, who in reminding the event in which the military lost his life, highlighted how his courage represents yet another demonstration of how a carabiniere always remains such, even out of service.
Lastly, at the end of the celebration, the students of the artistic high school of Cittanova delivered two portraits of the deputy brigadier to the family members of the medal and the Carabinieri station of the town.
A ceremony, with the heartfelt participation of authorities, students and simple citizens to always keep alive the memory of those who, up to the extreme sacrifice, have given their lives for the defense of institutions and the state.
Re -enactment of the historical facts of the murder of V. Brig. Rosario Iozia
The V. Brig. Rosario Iozia had come to the Station of San Giorgio Morgeto on June 3, 1985, and by virtue of the professional and character qualities demonstrated, on the following 27 August, just twenty -five years old, he had been transferred to the Squadron of Cittanova, as commander.
Despite his young age, he immediately distinguished himself for the seriousness, balance and correctness of his work, always marked by impartiality, righteousness and the spirit of sacrifice.
Already following complex investigations and services delegated to him, he had in fact been mentioned on the agenda of the command of the then carabinieri Legion of Catanzaro, for the arrest of two criminals and the seizure of almost two kilograms of marijuana.
Also for the kidnapping of Angela Mitica of Oppido Mamertina, the last that occurred in the area, he had actively contributed to preventing the escape of the criminals, until he determined the liberation of the kidnapped young man.
For this action, on April 10, 1988, on the first anniversary of the murder of V. Brig. Iozia, the general commander of the Carabinieri had went to Zomaro, a countryside of the Municipality of Cittanova and the center of Aspromonte, to deliver a prize to the military from the Squadriglia di Cittanova, of which V. Brig.
The V. Brig. Rosario Iozia, at about 7.00 pm on 10 April 1987, in Petrara of the Municipality of Cittanova, while traveling from the service the provincial road directed to Polistena, at the exit of a curve noted some individuals who crossed an olive grove armed with mozzer rifles.
The military, being an excellent connoisseur of the places and people who gravitated in those areas, immediately sensed what had presented himself to his sight, and stopped the march of his car, challenging the gun of ordinance placed in pursuit of those criminals.
As soon as the military qualified and ordered them to stop, they did not hesitate to turn their weapons against him, exploding two shots of lupara and allowing him to answer only with a blow from his gun.
The evident disparity of the forces that had opposed proved fatal to V. Brig. Iozia, who fell lifeless on the asphalt after being drawn by numerous shots of various firearms.
The valiant action determined the granting of the silver medal to military valor to memory.