In Assisi on November 4th, civic authorities, a band, military representatives and jubilant school children all gathered to celebrate the Giornata dell’Unità Nazionale e delle Forze Armate (“Day of National Unity and the Armed Forces”), commemorating the end of Worl War I in 1918.
An early-morning procession left from the Piazza di Santa Chiara, heading to the main square of Assisi, Piazza del Comune before concluding at the monument sculpted in 1923 dedicated to those from the area who had died in World War I.
Preceded by their school banner, excited children from a local Assisi school entered Piazza Santa Chiara, one young girl wishing me the peace sign as they passed:
Italian flags were passed around and the children waved them jubilantly. They were backdropped by the majestic pink-and-white limestone 13th-c. Basilica di Santa Chiara, tomb church of St. Clare of Assisi, follower of Francesco.
The local band was ready to lead the procession…
…and gathered near the children, members of the Italian army behind them.
Clarinetist Leonardo even played them short tunes, to their delight.
Members of that elite mobile infantry unit formed in the mid-19th century, the Bersaglieri, soon joined the procession, those characteristic black capercallie feathers drooping off their hats.
Members of the Italian army proudly carried the laurel wreath to be placed af the foot of the monument to those who died in World War I at the conclusion of the march:
Two representives of another police branch, la Guardia di Finanza (finance police) were there, too:
Assisi’s mayor, Walter Stoppini, chatted with one of the finance police as well as with a carabinieri (national police – also in the procession):
The red and blue banner of Assisi – with the Assisi symbols of the cross and rearing lion – reigned in the processon too, proudly carried by local policewomen
With band leading in solemn rhythms, followed by children waving their flags with enthusiasm, the procession headed from the Piazza di Santa Chiara towards Assisi’s main square, Piazza del Comune. The stately 13th-c. .bell tower backdropped the blue and red of that Assisi banner, closing the procession:
From the main square, the procession wound through Assisi backstreets to the monument to those of the area who had died in the First World War.
After placing the laurel wreath with gratitude and esteem, all posed for an official photo:
(…..and my thanks to Donatella Casciarri, of Assisi’s city council, who shared the official photo with me – and photo on this page: https://www.facebook.com/100071550192548/posts/843111214750544/?rdid=Pv717hjiy2mJQ6UL)
I walked up to Piazza Trieste the day after the November 4th events, reveling in the quiet solemnity of that spot…..
A pigeon perched on the top of the monument seemed to be surveying all:
A post behind the monument bears the inscription in various languages, “may peace prevail on earth.”
Not far away, children can play – in this place of peace….
And may the events of November 4th commemorating national unity, unite all – in peace.
See this video on the November 4th Assisi celebration
Do see this https://www.annesitaly.com/2021/04/16/near-assisi-the-war-cemetery-of-the-commonwealth/note on the Assisi Commonwealth War cemetery.
See this video on that Assisi war cemetery.
Here’s another video on the Assisi war cemetery.
