Friuli earthquake of 1976

Friuli earthquake of May 1976

 The buzz of voices coming from the back of the bar,

the man appeared in the doorway,

the counter that rushed toward me,

it touched me and returned to his place.

The lights went out.

All in a matter of seconds: endless.

I found myself in the street running towards the barracks.

In Lombardy, Emilia Romagna the quake was felt sharply.

My mother then told me of the incessant swinging of chandeliers.
“Luckily, Mario is not here, he will not have heard anything” She tought

That day at 19.00 a young officer was preparing his first service as Chief of the Armed Picket Ordinary.

He became immediately respected by soldiers and explained to them the functions and the behavior to maintain in case of danger and emergency .

But he could not have imagined what would have happened two hours later.
During the night , the young lieutenant , along with the Pordenone third Battalion was among the first to rush to the rescue of the people affected by the earthquake in Friuli .

The military convoy passing through San Daniele del Friuli came up to Osoppo , one of the devastated countries,
then Gemona, Trasaghis and to return again to Osoppo.

With the purple handkerchief to cover the mouth and the nose, the ” lieutenant ” took courage , and turning to his friend Mark said, ” It’s up to us to lead the example .”
So the soldier followed the two young officers and protected only by their plumed helmets , handling the small ordinary hoes they began to dig through the rubble.

 For two weeks, they did thir best in a race against the time but they could do anything.

They pulled out of the ground only tortured bodies that seemed floured dummies.
Still I have indelible memories of those days, and a helmet is lying in a suitcase .

That helmet which belongs to my youth , was a witness to the suffering of people who are humble , hardworking, tenacious.
It may be now a witness of glory , success and splendor for all.

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