Photo credit: function.mil.ru (CC BY 4.0)
Memorial plaque, dedicated to Russian sailors, was restored after it was roped off by vandals in Palermo. Those sailors came to help locals after a terrible earthquake in Sicily in 1908. The plaque was restored by the initiative of the Russian Consulate General in Palermo with the participation of Russian compatriots, TASS reports.
The opening ceremony of the memorial sign took place in the park of Reggio Calabria on July 29. It was attended by the consul-general in Palermo, Sergey Patronov. In his speech the counsil has stressed that the monument commemorated to the assistance rendered to Italy by the Russian Navy, where Russians, Ukrainians and other nationalities served together. The Consul General said that this memorial is the symbol of friendship between Russia and Italy.
The ceremony was also attended by representatives of Paspartout cultural association and other public organizations.
The flower-laying ceremony was held at the monument to Russian sailors, timed to coincide with the Day of the Russian Navy on the same day in the Italian city of Messina.
An earthquake in December 1908 took the lives of more than half of the population of Messina. The Baltic Fleet squadron ships were nearby on a training trip. They have rescued about 2,000 Italians.
Russkiy Mir
