PRESS RELEASE (June 15, 2016)
The names of the Alpine troops who will receive the National Award “Alpine Soldier of the Year 2015””. The national award, established in 1973 by the Savona Section of the National Alpine Association (A.N.A.), which will be delivered Sunday, June 19, a Loano, aims to highlight and promote moral and heroic actions deemed worthy of recognition, emphasizing the sense of service to others, solidarity, and willingness to perform actions quietly and in everyday life, in full accordance with the “Alpine Spirit.”.
This year's award recipients are: the retired Alpine soldier Giacomo Alcuri, the Alpine soldier in arms 1st Mar. Lgt. Enrico Lillo and the Alpine Diploma of Honor Oreste Pastor.
Below are the reasons that led to this decision.
Giacomo Alcuri, Born in 1966 (A.N.A. Casale M.To Section – Gr. Casale Sud), after completing his military service in 1984 in the Fanfare of the Alpine Brigade Julia, he always brought Alpine values and the appeal of his hat and trumpet to civilian society. His constant and active participation in bands and fanfares was unfortunately interrupted in 2011, when a tragic car accident took his 17-year-old son Simone from his family. With this heavy burden on his heart, Giacomo continues his life as a father and husband, while holding a dream in his heart: to do something different, to transform his grief into “added value.” He therefore embraced the initiative to raise funds for the construction of a urology department at the hospital in Tamale (Ghana), a hospital that provides specialist care to around four million people in an extremely poor country. In agreement with his wife, he immediately left for Ghana, offering his professional skills, donating the proceeds from his insurance compensation to the cause, and continuing to support the fundraising campaign. Present at the laying of the foundation stone, proudly wearing his Alpine hat, he promised to wear it again at the inauguration of the hospital, which will be called “Central Hospital Simone Arcuri.”.
The 1st Mar. Lt. Enrico Lillo, Born in 1961, a non-commissioned officer at RECOM “Tridentina,” he stands out for his outstanding basic skills and exceptional professional qualities. In particular, on March 25, 2015, while off duty, he was in a bar in the city of Bolzano and, with enthusiasm and determination, he rescued a customer who was having difficulty breathing by performing the Heimlich maneuver, which he had learned years earlier during training. His intervention allowed the victim to resume breathing and saved his life. Through his generosity and exceptional altruism, First Lieutenant Lillo has contributed to enhancing the image of the Alpine Troops and the Italian Army in society.
Oreste PASTOR, born in 1946, vice president of the Imperia branch of the A.N.A. (National Alpine Association), distinguished himself during a serious accident. On August 13, 2015, surgeon Roberto Mattei, a road cyclist, was involved in a serious accident, falling from his bicycle and being thrown over the railing of a bridge. The accident would have had fatal consequences if the thick vegetation had not cushioned his fall before he hit the rocks in the stream below. The difficulties and inaccessibility of the area made it difficult to organize the rescue of the injured man. Oreste, who happened to be at the scene, threw himself into the brambles and bushes armed only with an old billhook and, heedless of the danger of falling himself, managed to clear a path that allowed the rescuers to pass through and reach the injured man. While the injured man was receiving first aid, Oreste appeared before him, dripping with sweat and bleeding, and holding his hand, he said: “Don't worry, now you'll be fine."
Let's get it out!” An instinctive and selfless act of merit by a retired Alpine soldier, but above all by a man, worthy of being told, because it joins his daily work of solidarity in collecting food and clothing for the needy. A source of pride for the towns of Imperia and for the National Alpine Association, a clear example of altruism and Alpine spirit.
La 42nd edition of the National “Alpine Soldier of the Year 2015" Award”, will take place in Loano from June 17 to 19. The program that will accompany the award ceremony It will be rich and will include an exhibition, a gathering of the Savona sections, concerts in the streets of the city center and at the Giardino del Principe, an excursion to Monte Carmo, and, of course, the Alpini parade.
The event is organized by the Alpine Group of Loano in collaboration with the Savona branch of the National Alpine Association, with contributions from the’Department of Tourism and Culture of the City of Loano and the sponsorship of the Liguria Region, Province of Savona.
Up to as of June 19 you can visit the historical exhibition, with free admission, entitled “100 years since the Great War”. In the Mosaic room at Palazzo Doria Photos, uniforms, and historical artifacts from World War I are on display.
Friday, June 17 the event will get underway: At 9 p.m., in the Church of St. John the Baptist The concert of the Alpine Choirs of the Savona Section will take place: Monte Greppino Choir and Choir “Sulle note del lago di Osiglia” (On the notes of Lake Osiglia).
The Mount Greppino Choir was founded in October 1993 within the Savona Alpine section and under the direction of Maestro Antonio Ferro. It takes its name from the mountain of the same name behind the town of Varazze, where it also has its headquarters. The choir's repertoire ranges from songs drawn from the Alpine folk tradition or those inspired by the events of the two world wars, to many songs belonging to the Ligurian and Piedmontese folk tradition, as well as those of Venetian and Friulian origin.
The mixed choir “On the notes of the Lake” in Osiglia (SV) was founded in 1991 as a liturgical choir and later decided to expand its repertoire to include folk and mountain songs. At Loano, the two choirs will perform a repertoire of sacred music.
Saturday, June 18, the day will begin with the’hike to Pian delle Bosse and Mount Carmo, organized in cooperation with the Loano section of the Italian Alpine Club and the Friends of Carmo Association.
At 3 p.m., a traveling concert will take place in the city streets. Mount Beigua Fanfare and to the 4 p.m. the tribute to War Memorial of Loano in Valerga Square e Rome course.
In the evening at 9 p.m., in the’Prince's Garden Summer Arena the concert will be held on Mount Cauriol Choir and of the Fanfare of the Veterans of the Alpine Brigade “Orobica” of Bergamo.
A vocal formation with an unmistakable style and splendid harmonizations, the Mount Cauriol Choir is characterized by a folk-based repertoire.
The choir will present a program of famous songs that seem timeless, songs that interpret not only the peace of the immense solitude of the high mountains, but also the thoughts, aspirations, and memories of those who, in the past, lived in those mountains and composed and sang these songs.
Always at 21.00, on the waterfront in the cultural space Maccagli Garden, the concert of the Fanfare of the Veterans of the Alpine Brigade “Orobica” of Bergamo.
Sunday, June 19, to the 9 a.m. there will be a gathering of the Alpine troops in Mazzini Square, and after the flag-raising ceremony and honors to the Savona Section banner, there will be a parade through the city streets, accompanied by the notes of the Monte Beigua Fanfare Band, Savona Section and from the Colle di Nava Fanfare Band, Imperia Section. The Alpini will stop to pay their respects at the War Memorial on the seafront and then proceed to Italy Square. Holy Mass will follow in the St. John the Baptist Church and then the delivery of the Alpine Award of the Year 2015 with greetings from the authorities. Award established in 1973 by the Savona branch of the A.N.A. (National Alpine Association), the Alpine Award of the Year It is a national award that aims to highlight and promote moral and heroic actions deemed worthy of recognition, emphasizing a sense of service to others, solidarity, and a willingness to perform actions quietly and in everyday life, in keeping with the “Alpine Spirit.”.
At 13.00, The flag-lowering ceremony will mark the end of the event.
Sunday, June 19, a Special Commemorative Philatelic Cancellation. Stamping will take place at Doria Palace from 7.30 at 12.30.
