Monuments to Italian Autieri

Last March, at the request of the Associazione Nazionale Autieri d'Italia, Sanremo section 'Pino Panizzi', represented by its president, Vittorio Morra, the Town Council decided to erect a stone monument in the garden between Via Ruffini and Corso Orazio Raimondo.

At first, the Association had requested the area facing the monument to the Fallen of Nassiryia in the stretch of cycle path parallel to Via Nino Bixio. Then, in agreement with the Municipality, the destination approved by the Council was chosen.

Finally, on the morning of today, 28 June 2018, at 10.30 a.m. to be precise, the monument of the Associazione degli Autieri di Sanremo was inaugurated. The Association was born at the end of the First World War when, in 1918, a group of veteran motorists, driven by the desire to find each other, promoted the initiative to set up an association to represent them.

And so in 1921, in Milan, the promoting committee founded the Associazione Nazionale Automobilisti in Congedo (ANAC).
In 1951, the Associazione Autieri d'Italia (Association of Italian Military Car Drivers) was founded in Rome and, from the merger of the two associations, the Associazione Nazionale Autieri d'Italia (ANAI) was born on 23 November 1952, with its headquarters in Rome.

Since then ANAI has always been active and involved in the events of national life.

In addition to President Vittorio Morra, the ceremony was attended by the city's main authorities, including the president of the municipal council Alessandro Il Grande and councillor Mauro Menozzi, as well as the Carabinieri, Alpini, Navy and paratroopers.

Don Goffredo Sciupa then blessed the monument, followed by maestro Venturelli singing the notes of silence.

(Source: text and images from "Sanremonews.it" of 28 June 2018; images from the web and private archives)