By Domenico Troilo
I am here to extend a final goodbye from the National
Association “Patriot Group of the Maiella” to Antonio Manzi, our brother and
companion in so many battles.
Your sudden death opens an unfillable gap amongst the files of the Maiella
and the Abruzzan Resistance. Antonio always believed in the validity of the
ideals belonging to free men and to the combatants of the Liberation:
Democracy-Freedom-Peace- Solidarity. He was always on the front-line in
defence of the weak. In his daily duties he always managed to listen
kind-heartedly and to give comfort and certainty to everyone in order to
achieve a just society.
The Maiella Brigade was your larger family: you went with it, with a dark
daily task, you had immense organisational capabilities and optimism,
Brisighella waited with us to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its
Liberation. You were busy trying to recover the use of your lower limbs with
a youthful spirit, after the accident at Fano, so as not to miss the
remembered important appointment. Your generous heart said “stop”! You left
the scene of life on tiptoe and in silence as is suitable for strong men. I
am finding it difficult to remember your person in greater detail at this
moment when I am in such pain. To Biuccia and your children, to your dear
grandchildren, to your relatives and to everyone who loved you we say : be
brave – life goes on.
You people must stay in the great family of the Maiella so that together we
can carry forwards all the projects to defend our Country and Democracy.
By doing this we shall honour Antonio, the great Freedom fighter.
The flag of the Maiella Brigade – Gold Medal for Military Valour – one bows
low in an extreme salute to your coffin.
From all of us here present, a warm embrace with condolences to the family
of the late lamented National Secretary of our Association.
Farewell Antonio!!! |
By Aurelio Lalli-Persiani
My dear Zio (Uncle) Antonio,
Last night I had a nightmare. It was such a frightening dream. I shan’t tell
it to you because we know your heart can’t stand strong emotions. All the
more reason now that you have got over the critical phase after your
accident. Last time I saw you, you looked very well. Apart from your slight
headache I found you very well. Certainly a day like this, just for us will
be hard to forget. But how strange that headache was. I wonder what could
have caused it. The week has almost finished, did you know? We must meet up
again tomorrow, to take up the discussion again. I’ve just returned home.
Margherita is on the telephone in the kitchen. Terrified. She seems
lifeless.
I
wonder what she can be listening to that is so dramatic. She says I have to
come to Chieti. Yes, I know. That’s for tomorrow, as was agreed.
No, she says, it has to be today: in haste, now. I have to come immediately.
Giovanna’s right, I’ve already told Bianca: “I understand, I understand that
in that coffin is Zio Antonio, I do believe it.
But that must be another Zio Antonio. Our Zio Antonio is at home, you told
me that he’s better and almost cured.! You never tell me lies!”
Before it goes out of my head: I have some personal problems. Remind me to
tell you about them, I need your advice. I’m at Torricella, in the church.
So many people. So many flowers. Domenico Troilo’s there, your friend, the
heroic lad from 50 years ago. He’s reading something. He pauses, crying. He
starts again. There are so many of your friends. I can see Lilì, Nicola,
Peppino, Giovanni: distraught. Nicola Piccone is sobbing. Germana, Antonio,
Bruno, Rodolfo are all here too. How can it have happened.....
Antonio Manzi is forever present with us
But let’s get back to us. I’m expecting you at Christmas as usual at
Gessopalena. I want to organise an evening for us like last year. But
haven’t we already had it? Christmas? I don’t remember seeing you. Maybe I’m
a bit confused: you know I had a terrible pain some time ago. You must
excuse me. Anyway, remember to get yourself better and don’t tire yourself
out. I want you to be in good shape this summer. We’ll meet up at Torino di
Sangro like we always do. And then of course at Torricella. But get better,
don’t get it into your head to play a dirty trick on us!
You’re far too important to us. Actually I really want to tell you the
truth, because now I know it: we can’t manage without you. Now I’ll say
goodbye to you. But why haven’t we seen each other any more? I always think
about you.
Wherever you may be, think of me too, sometimes. It will help me to survive,
because if you stay so far away nothing will ever be the same again.
Your Aurelio
P.S. An affectionate embrace from the friends of Torricella.
|
BRIEF INDEX
Born in Torricella Peligna on 30th May 1921, died at Chieti on 26th November
1994. Aged 20 he took part in the Russian campaign and the retreat from the
Don, earning a Medal of Military Valour on the field. On his return to Italy
he became one of the founders of the Brigata Maiella. When it dissolved he
became its Secretary General. He was one of the founders of the Socialist
Party in the Province of Chieti. For many years he was a member of the
Executive of the Federation and its Vice-Secretary. He was a member of the
General Executive of the PSI[2]. He was a member of the Committee for
Provincial Control (Comitato di Controllo provinciale {Coreco}) for five
years. |
MANZI SPLENDID AND WISE YOUTH
Dear Antonio, I read the latest edition of the Journal of the
Association and with it your final article. With deep sadness and much
nostalgia I shut my eyes and I greeted you saying good day to you. You
were smiling at me from behind the Messagero d’Abruzzo dressed in your
light-weight short-jacket on a fresh sunny day in August. It was one of
those beautiful mornings that only our town can gift to us, at a time
when youngsters who love night life are still sleeping; you were there,
who the previous evening had been virtually the last to leave the
square, yet you were already there, to study the daily newspaper, to
scrutinise the occasional passer-by, almost as if you were afraid to
waste the brief time of the Torricellan summer. An old boy, a splendid,
wise young man who knew how to live and enjoy his time most fully, dear
Antonio, the summer of ’95 will be much emptier for me too. I only knew
you a little, I met you late, but you were in time, however, to leave me
a good inheritance; your sweet, calm method of facing problems, your
great capacity for mediating, for me you were the only connecting link
between the two different universes that share the summer square, that
of the middle-classes, the noblemen, surnames rich in history and that
of the peasants and the proletariat to which I myself belong.
By Domenico Cianci
|
MEMORIES OF ANTONIO MANZI ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF
THE PDS [1]
OF TORRICELLA.
By Giammario Giangiordano
Ideas can distance and divide men. Their human measure, personality,
intelligence, morale and sense of feelings, however, always bring them
closer together.
For this reason we are deeply moved by the death of Antonio Manzi, a civil
man, profoundly honest, deeply loyal companion along our common path.
Your scene, as Marx used to say, was that of History, in which we are all
actors and where men of the Left can interpret their conscience. We are in
mourning today, for our companion, our brother, the symbol, the man of
rectitude, of work and of political courage. The Left still needs more
figures like him.
Antonio Manzi is just such a man. With him the man of the Left is not behind
us, but in front. Farewell, companion Manzi. |