Catania, 27 May 2023.
The historic halls of the “Circolo Unione” in Catania in the Palace of the Princes Paternò di Biscari hosted a conference organised to present the anastatic reprint of the book Le Medaglie d’Oro al Valor Militare di Casa Savoia [The Gold Medals for Military Valour of the House of Savoy], published in 1942 by the Historical Office of the Royal Army.
The event was superbly organised by the Vicariate for Catania of the Dynastic Orders of the House of Savoy.
The volume has a foreword written by HRH Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy, an introduction by General Carlo Maria Magnani, National President of the Institute of the Blue Ribbon for Holders of Decorations for Military Valour and notes prepared by the Delegation for Sicily illustrating the reasons for the reprint and the origins of the decorations for military valour instituted by Carlo Alberto with the Royal Order of 26 March 1833.
The publication, which was made possible thanks to the contributions of Ms Maria Coculo Satta, president of the “Comitato Amm.sq. A. Cocco” of the Queen Elena International Association and several knights from the Delegation, was promoted on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Institute of the Blue Ribbon in 1923, which Vittorio Emanuele III officially recognised as non-profit organisation in 1928.
After an extensive preface, the book presents the biographies of the seven Princes of the House of Savoy who were decorated with the highest reward for military valour between 1848 and 1942: Vittorio Emanuele II, Ferdinando di Savoia Genova, Eugenio di Savoia Carignano, Umberto I, Amedeo di Savoia, first Duke of Aosta, Emanuele Filiberto, second Duke of Aosta, and Amedeo, third Duke of Aosta. The volume is adorned with portraits of the Princes by the well-known artists Dario Pettinelli and Adolfo Balduini.
After the greetings of the Deputy for Catania, Comm. Ing. Salvatore Caruso, who read out the message sent by Gen. Magnani, and the Delegate for Sicily, Cav. Gr. Cr. Dr. Ugo d’Atri, President of the National Institute for the Guard of Honour at the Royal Tombs of the Pantheon, presented the book.
After the greetings of the Deputy for Catania, Comm. Ing. Salvatore Caruso, who read out the message sent by Gen. Magnani, and the Delegate for Sicily, Cav. Gr. Cr. Dr. Ugo d’Atri, President of the National Institute for the Guard of Honour at the Royal Tombs of the Pantheon, presented the book.
