Francavilla Fontana: commemoration ceremony of the Ordinary Marshal of the Carabinieri MOVM Antonio Dimitri.

In the presence of the Mayor of Francavilla Fontana, lawyer Antonello Denuzzo, of the President of the Criminal Section of the Court of Brindisi, Dr. Maurizio Saso, of the Provincial Commander of the Carabinieri, Col. Leonardo Acquaro and with the participation of the highest civil and military authorities of the province, the ceremony commemorating the 24th anniversary of the sacrifice of the Ordinary Marshal Gold Medal for Military Valor "in memoriam" Antonio Dimitri took place in Francavilla Fontana, murdered in Francavilla Fontana by some criminals while trying to foil a bank robbery.

For the exceptional courage and sense of duty demonstrated on the occasion, Marshal Dimitri was granted the highest honor for military valor, summarized in the following motivation:

“With firm determination and outstanding courage, he faced two criminals in flagrant robbery in a credit institution who were trying, weapons in hand, to escape, shielding themselves from two hostages. He renounced the use of the weapon supplied so as not to jeopardize the lives of the hostages and ordered the criminals to surrender, but was fatally struck by shots treacherously fired by a third robber stationed outside the institute. Clear example of courage and elite military virtues, pushed to the extreme sacrifice.” Francavilla Fontana (BR), 14 July 2000.

The ceremony, officiated by the Bishop of Oria, SE Monsignor Vincenzo Pisanello, was attended by the brother of the fallen, Raffaele, Lieutenant of the Carabinieri on leave, as well as representatives of the provincial Sections of the National Carabinieri Association (colleagues no longer in service). During the commemoration, the motivation for the Gold Medal for Military Valor was read, honors were paid to the Fallen and a laurel wreath was laid near the commemorative plaque at the site of the massacre, blessed by SE Monsignor Vincenzo Pisanello.

This was followed by a speech from the Mayor of Francavilla Fontana.

The ceremony concluded with the speech of the Provincial Commander of the Carabinieri of Brindisi, who, after greeting Marshal Dimitri's family present, remembered the tragic event so that the heroism of the Marshal of the Army who did not hesitate for a single moment to jeopardize the their lives to thwart a heinous crime that had put the safety of innocent citizens at serious risk.

The heroism of Antonio Dimitri is a memory that belongs to the entire Francaville community in particular, to the entire nation and to all those who continue to fulfill their duty on a daily basis with constant conviction, total availability and generous enthusiasm towards the communities that have been entrusted, in the name of those ideals of legality and justice handed down to us by our Fathers and by all those who sacrificed their lives for those same values.