INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE – 21 SEPTEMBER 2020 –
Moments of great emotion and intense participation were experienced during the celebration of the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE, which took place inside Parco San Marco, the green area in the heart of Latina, an initiative promoted by the “Fondazione Varaldo Di Pietro” and the Club for UNESCO of Latina, with the patronage of the Municipality.
The event took place next to what has now become a symbolic place, the “Monument to Inclusion” dedicated to Eunice Kenendy Shriver, the first work of its kind in Europe, created by the “Fondazione Varaldo Di Pietro” and donated by it to the Municipality of Latina.
With limited but sold-out seating, in full compliance with anti-Covid safety measures, in the presence of many civil and military authorities, the artists gave life to an extraordinary concert, focused on songs dedicated to peace. A real crescendo of emotions was aroused by the voice of singer Jennifer Vargas and the Phonema Gospel Singers choir: thrilling songs enhanced by the extraordinary participation of Lorenzo Licitra, winner of X Factor 2017, who was able to instill further emotion with his voice.
Truly a crescendo of great intensity, with many famous songs accompanied by the applause of the audience who then let themselves go with a standing ovation for the last two songs performed: “We are the world” and “Imagine”, which was followed by the beautiful artistic lighting of the monument.
Before the concert, also broadcast live streaming, the president of the Varaldo Di Pietro Foundation, Giovanni Di Pietro, and the president of the Club for UNESCO of Latina and national vice president of the association, Mauro Macale, expressed their satisfaction at having been able to give the city, and not only, a moment of reflection on the themes of peace, announcing new joint initiatives to promote together common values that are precisely contained in the beautiful “Monument to Inclusion”.
The mayor of Latina, Damiano Coletta, publicly announced the creation of a Peace Department, expressing the city’s pride in having a monument to inclusion that has now become a national and international symbol.
During the speeches, there was also a pleasant surprise: the greeting from the international president of Special Olympics, Tim Kennedy Shriver, who sent a video message from the United States.