President Meloni’s statement on 68th anniversary of the Marcinelle tragedy

The tragedy that happened on 8 August 1956 at the Bois du Cazier mine in Marcinelle, in Belgium, will be forever etched in Italian and European history.
Italy suffered the greatest loss: 136 out of 262 miners were our compatriots. They were Italians who had made the difficult and painful decision to leave their land to support, with dignity and spirit of service, the nation that had welcomed them. They did so undemandingly, with humbleness and dedication. A dark mine thousands of miles away from where they were born may have claimed their lives, but the memory of those sons of Italy lives on in our national community’s gratitude.

Today, in fact, Italy marks its National Day of Italian Labour Sacrifices in the World. This official day of commemoration was established by the unforgettable Minister Mirko Tremaglia in 2001 to remember Italian workers who have lost their lives in all corners of the world, and to honour their contribution to the development of the nations they chose as their ‘second homeland’. 

Marcinelle is one of the most dramatic pages in the great history of Italian emigration. A history of setbacks, sacrifices and hardship, but also one of brilliant successes, battles won and extraordinary achievements. On this day, we also celebrate this great history and reaffirm our bond with compatriots abroad, men and women who hold Italy dear and help make our homeland loved and admired the world over.

[Courtesy translation]