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Celebration of the Fanti of Monzambano
The Fanti of the Monzambano Section celebrated their annual festival. At 10:30 a.m., a memorial mass was held for fallen and deceased soldiers, celebrated by the Parochial priest of Monzambano, Don Elio Santini. At the end of the mass, the soldier Giancarlo Simeoni read the prayer of the soldier.
Following this, everyone gathered at La Quercia, where the social lunch was scheduled. Esteemed guests included Vice President of the Fanti d’Italia Association, Lieutenant Colonel Franco Gruppetti, born in 1913, awarded the Silver Medal at the Vm. Also present was Lieutenant Colonel Giancarlo Bellini, a member of the Brescia Interned Federation’s board — both belonged to the renowned regiment “Lupi di Toscana”.
The homage was rendered by the president of the Monzambano Fanti section, Enzo Battilana. Interventions were held by the nonagenarian soldier Mº Amicabile and the vice president of the association, Lieutenant Colonel Franco Gruppetti. The celebration continued with songs performed by tenor Calanca and the famous duo of soldiers Alberto Castagna and Gianpietro Rossi.
Historical Significance of Monzambano for the Infantry
Monzambano holds a special place in the history of the infantry arm. The first gold medal awarded to an ordinary soldier was for a wartime act that took place in Monzambano. During the First War of Independence in 1848, Luigi Serravalle, a native of Noli in Genoa, managed to destroy the bridge over the Mincio River under enemy fire, halting the Austrians who were advancing towards Brescia.
In the Third War of Independence in 1866, the infantry regiments 47º and 48º, raised in 1860, fiercely defended the bridges over the Mincio River near Monzambano to protect the 8th and 9th divisions, which were retreating after the ill-fated Battle of Custoza. The infantry, often disparaged and sarcastically called ‘the buffa’, but also respected as ‘the queen of battles’, has always fought and suffered silently, often falling in silence.
Today, their heirs silently celebrate their festival and remember the fallen soldiers.
