Remembrance Is Our Common Responsibility

In his speech delivered in the cemetery of Vittoria, Sicily, the minister of defence said that the chapel commemorating the Hungarian soldiers who had died in POW camps in the First World War, and the conscientious preservation of the memory of soldiers who had died here – including the commemoration ceremony on that day – show that the Italian–Hungarian relations are excellent. Dr. István Simicskó expressed thanks for the Italians’ work and support that helps us deservedly keep the memory alive of those Hungarian soldiers who had died in Sicily during the First World War.

In his speech, the minister pointed out that “the 1000-year-old system of Christian values, which is built on love, solidarity and peace, has always given us strength, even in the hardest moments. By making the supreme sacrifice, our soldiers served their country and peace, even if they stood on the opposite side of the trenches in the given situation. Their example of life calls our attention to the fragility of the idea of peace and humanity. The bottom line is that we must remain humans even amidst the horrors of war, like the Italian and Hungarian soldiers had done before."

At the inauguration ceremony of the Hungarian chapel in the town’s cemetery, Mayor of Vittoria Giovanni Moscato greeted the people gathered there, and then MoD Catholic Military Bishop László Bíró and Father Monsignore Giuseppe Cale said prayers and consecrated the Hungarian chapel. On behalf of the Italian defence minister, Sicily Maritime Commander Rear Admiral Nicola de Felice also attended the commemorative event. At the end of the ceremony, Dr. István Simicskó scattered Hungarian soil around the chapel, which symbolizes that our soldier heroes can also rest on Hungarian soil at last.

The restoration of the Hungarian chapel in Vittoria was co-financed by the Ministry of Defence, the MoD Institute and Museum of Military History and Mátészalka as the twin town of Vittoria.

Photo: Veronika Dévényi