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Giuliani around the World at the Marcinelle commemorations
"It was a pleasure and an honor to open the meeting in Marcinelle, Belgium, dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Bois du Cazier mine tragedy, a wound in our history that, seventy years later, we must not forget." These were the words of Pamela Rabaccio, vice president of the Giuliani nel Mondo Association, who represented the AGM at the official ceremonies held on the mine site, which has been a museum and a World Heritage Site since 2012.
On August 8, 1956, 262 miners lost their lives, including 136 Italians and several fellow Friuli Venezia Giulia residents. They were men who had left our land in search of work and a better future for themselves and their families.
Marcinelle is not just a tragedy of the past: it is a story of sacrifice, work, and dignity, but also a warning against the exploitation of emigration. Trieste and the Julian region are also deeply marked by the stories of those who left, those who crossed borders and built their lives far from their homeland, taking their roots with them. This is why it is essential that the associations of fellow Friuli Venezia Giulia residents continue to collaborate and network. Because preserving memory also means building bridges between our communities and the new generations. Distance may separate people, but it cannot erase their roots.
"As AGM, we are therefore delighted to have contributed to this project and I sincerely thank all the associations, institutions, and speakers who participated in the event. In particular, I would like to thank Eraple President Cesare Costantini, who deserves credit for initiating this initiative, as well as the Autonomous Region of Friuli Venezia Giulia, and in particular Councilor Pierpaolo Roberti, for their enthusiastic support," Rabaccio continued.
President Giorgio Perini also delivered a message, remembering the sadly deceased Domenico Lenarduzzi, a Friulian, son of a miner, whose talents had led him to the top of the European Commission (and he was one of the founders of the Erasmus program). Giulio Groppi, president of the Brussels AGM club, also spoke: "Remembering doesn't just mean looking back. It means ensuring that what happened continues to teach us something for the future!"
"Participating in the ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Marcinelle tragedy was a profoundly intense and meaningful experience," said AGM Vice President Pamela Rabaccio. "Seventy years later, what's striking is the high turnout and Italy's strong interest in commemorating those victims, forced to leave their homeland to seek work and build a better future for their families and their country."
This was also demonstrated by the presence of the Italian State, especially with the message from the President of the Republic read by the President of the Senate, as well as the participation of numerous regional associations of Italians abroad, particularly those from the regions hardest hit by the tragedy, including Abruzzo and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Particularly touching was the presence of the last survivors, now in their nineties, as well as the many families and grandchildren who, year after year, continue to gather in Marcinelle to share memories, suffering, and a family history that time has not erased.
"I was also deeply struck by the presence of many Italian citizens who, fortunately, had nothing directly to do with that tragedy and yet, out of civic duty and respect for memory, continue to participate in the commemorations every year. This is perhaps one of the most authentic forms of collective memory," Rabaccio continues.
Over the years, the Marcinelle site has changed significantly. The site of the tragedy has also become a place of remembrance, thanks to the creation of the museum and the spaces that today recount that painful chapter in our history.
Particularly significant was the contribution of our Giuliani nel Mondo delegation, brought to Marcinelle through the previous day's conference and the many moments, including more private ones, shared during the trip. It was a significant opportunity to share not only an anniversary, but the profound meaning of a history that also belongs to our regional community.
"I think we all returned from Marcinelle convinced that this experience should be shared with an ever-increasing number of people, especially the younger generations," adds Rabaccio.
Marcinelle speaks to us of Italian emigration in the past, of the hardships and suffering faced by those forced to leave their homeland. But it also speaks to us of the value of work, of the dignity that must accompany it, and, above all, of safety. Because work can never be separated from the dignity of the individual, and no pursuit of a better future can justify the sacrifice of one's life. The duty to place ever greater emphasis on safety in the workplace must also be rooted in the memory of tragedies like that of Marcinelle.
Seventy years later, therefore, remembering doesn't just mean looking to the past. It means taking responsibility for the future.
We thank the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region for having supported the associations of fellow countrymen abroad and for having made the participation of this delegation in Marcinelle possible, helping to keep the memory alive and to speak of this page of history in the right terms and with the right respect.
Our hope for the future is that, in upcoming commemorations, even more young people will be involved, so that they can learn about this history, understand its value, and transform memory into a lesson for the future. Because remembering Marcinelle means remembering who we are and how much it cost so many to build a future far from their homeland.
Source: Giuliani Association in the World
