The Gold Medal for Civil Merit was awarded to the Italian State Police in memory of the \u201cmembers of the Public Security who, in different ranks, roles and responsibilities opposed the occupation regime and the racial legislation from 1943 to 1945\u201d. The solemn tribute was conferred on the 173rd anniversary of the Corps, in a ceremony held in Piazza del Popolo in Rome on March 10, in the presence of the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and the Presidents of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, Ignazio La Russa and Lorenzo Fontana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
More than 160 policemen fell in the war of liberation from Nazi-fascism, \u201csacrificing their lives for those principles of freedom and justice on which the Italian Republic was founded,\u201d said Police Chief Vittorio Pisani, stressing that the duty of the policemen who serve today is \u201cto honor them every day, in every corner of our national territory.\u201d On the same page, the Minister of the Interior Matteo Piantedosi, who emphasized their \u201cspirit of abnegation, sense of responsibility, professional and human value.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a message, Italian President Sergio Mattarella recalled that \u201cthe women and men of the police guard the security of the national community, with generous service to citizens, to protect the constitutional values, with prompt action for social cohesion.\u201d This commitment to freedom and democracy, he added, \u201cis rooted in the courage of those, who, even at the cost of their lives, chose to respect man and liberty in the fight for liberation.\u201d Among these police heroes, there were \u201cRighteous among the Nations,” such as Giovanni Palatucci, police commissioner in Fiume (now Croatia), who helped many Jews and was later killed by the Nazis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"