OUR SIXTH OCTOBER 8th (see Photo Gallery)

SAINT AMBROSE BASILICA
Speech by 8 Ottobre Foundation President, Paolo Pettinaroli

I wish to thank Monsignor De Scalzi for welcoming us here in this splendid basilica and celebrating Holy Mass, and I thank Archbishop Cardinal Tettamanzi and His Eminence Cardinal Martini for their much appreciated, heartfelt messages.
I thank the San Carlo school choir, which traditionally accompanies the October 8 ceremony, and soprano Enrica Fassio for the exquisite gift of her participation.
I also salute the president of the council of Milan Mr. Palmeri and all the authorities who are here today.
Today, for the sixth time (and it is painful for me to remember it), we gather together to commemorate our 118 loved ones who lost their lives on the runway of the Linate Airport six years ago, on October 8, 2001, which was a Monday like today.
This experience still triggers moments in which it is impossible to hold back one’s emotions. It does not matter if you are on the street or at home: you feel a knot in your throat and you cannot stop the tears.
We miss our loved ones more than ever, and we are increasingly outraged by the way in which 118 persons lost their lives. Inefficiency, stupid bureaucracy, and a lack of communication between the people who should watch over passenger safety were fatal for us. Worse yet, I do not believe that many people still in these positions realize the need to eliminate superficiality and indifference.
We will pursue our commitment and hope that the safety of airline passengers becomes a duty, regardless of one’s political affiliation or opinion.
Our efforts urging improvement in air transportation safety are increasingly difficult and less appreciated. Needless to say, we are invisible to many, and the higher up you go with the authorities, the more they “pass the buck” and shift the blame on others.
Once again from this spot, I ask God to accept our prayers and help and protect us in all our endeavors.
Now the time has come to visit our Beech Tree Grove, where each of us, in our moment of silence and prayer, will be near our loved ones.
My love to all and a kiss for all the children.
Thank you.

LA SCALA THEATRE
Speech by Vice Mayor Riccardo De Corato

Welcome from the City of Milan to the authorities and all guests, inparticular the foreign guests who have made their presence felt.
Six years after that tragedy, that ruined 118 lives, we are here together to remember and to convey the affection and solidarity of
our city. Remembrance that becomes a memory, something that is constantly in our minds. Because memory is a sign of civilisation. And a community cannot cut its ties with the past if it wishes to have
ethical and cultural growth. It must instead treasure these. Becausewhat is often behind it is the yeast that grows its future.
On behalf of the Council I would like to thank the committee of 8th October 2001 and its president Paolo Pettinaroli. Your search for justice and truth is also ours. To clarify definitively and promptly who was responsible for that tragedy is another sign of civilisation. As is the certainty of the penalty. Without these bases there cannot be justice.
I also thank the committee for the highly noble commitment to the improvement of safety standards of air transport. Never before as in recent times, marked by the fear of international terrorism, has the theme of security been so high on the political agenda of every country. And it is a good thing, therefore, that also the public is highly attentive, contributing to a kind of joint security effort. More vigilance means less risk for every one.
There are many things that one would like to communicate to a person who has lost a child. But in these situations words alone cannot do it. There is instead a language that can express the inexpressible, because it is based on emotions, which are universal.
It is the language of music. A language that unites people. This is why this year we wanted to mark the occasion with the concert of the philharmonic choir at the Teatro alla Scala conducted by the maestro Bruno Casoni. An ideal moment for meditation, reflection and sharing of feelings.
Near to Linate Airport there is a wood with 118 beech trees planted in memory of the victims. 118 trees whose roots are in the earth, but that look to the sky. And from up there we are convinced that those souls are still watching us.
Milan will not forget its “children”. The wound will always remain open. It will serve as a warning until such dramas no longer occur. The fog, that that morning of 8th October 2001 descended on Linate Airport, will never descend on the hearts of the Milanese people. We will always be near to you.
Thank you to everyone.

LA SCALA THEATRE
Speech by Committee chairman Paolo Pettinaroli

Good evening everyone and thank-you for attending the annual meeting in remembrance of the Linate air tragedy of October 8th 2001.
My heartfelt thanks to the Mayor of Milan Letizia Moratti, absent today due to official commitments, for kindly allowing us to use this fantastic theatre for the third time, thus helping to continue the tradition of support and collaboration.
My sincere thanks also to the Vice-Mayor Senator De Corato, to the City council and to the management of the La Scala theatre.
Thanks to the director Bruno Casoni and all the choir members.
Particular thanks goes to Pirelli for its generous contribution towards the organisation of this evening, to SEA for its customary and valuable support and to SAS for the genuine solidarity it has always shown in our regard, and I would also like to remember the kind and continued presence of the Civil, Military, Religious and Political Authorities.
A warm welcome to our friends from abroad, here from several different parts of the world, and also to the representatives from the associations for families of Italian air accident victims, who have joined us here today.
In striving to achieve its set goals, the 8th October 2001 Foundation has - throughout the past year - promoted conventions on the improvement of air transport safety with the collaboration of world leading experts in Milan, Seregno, Perfugas (Sassari), and last week in Florence.
Next December, we will be in Madrid for an international meeting in conjunction with ACI Europe (Airports Council International) and in May we have another important event due to take place in Rome in collaboration with Centro Studi Demetra.
The list of our initiatives is too long to read here but you can find it on our website at www.comitato8ottobre.com.
The theatre production “LINATE 8 OCTOBER 2001, THE DISASTER” written and played by Giulio Cavalli and Fabrizio Tumolillo, premiered at the Piccolo Teatro Grassi in Milan last December 18th with enormous success, and continues to receive great critical acclaim all over Italy, where it has been touring for the past ten months.
A book has recently been published containing script of the production as well as documentation pertaining to the research carried out. A very special DVD on the Linate tragedy is also due to be released shortly.
This year has also seen the naming of new squares and streets after October 8th: in Varedo, Ubiale Clanezzo, Piacenza, Pozzo d’Adda and Bresso, with others due to be named soon in Verona, Arluno, Somarate, Cassano Magnano, Gallarate, Romagnano Sesia to mention but a few.
Air transport is going through a period of considerable upheaval and great commercial development. Risks, far from being reduced, are actually rising at a staggering rate.
This phenomenon has never been systematically tackled, examined and resolved, so it would seem almost impossible to defend the inherent risk in flag, commercial and private carriers from the unknown enemy.
On this subject, allow me to underline the difficulties our Foundation has to face, the suspicion with which our cause is often treated and the atmosphere of utter refusal, particularly from certain powerful authorities, when it comes to facing us on television programmes or in public debates.
Nobody understands more than we do just how awful it is to discover that serious shortcomings were actually there under everyone’s nose and that nothing was done about them for years.
Does anyone really believe, in all honesty, that our calls for safety can continue to fall on deaf ears?
Just think of all the damage that’s been done to children, wives, mothers, fathers; Mind, I don’t use these words to incite to revenge, but more to raise awareness.
And undoubtedly one of the reasons behind the growth and success of our Foundation is indeed our strong commitment (strengthened by our painful experience), to spur the relevant authorities to guarantee increasingly high standards of airline safety, with technology and advanced, adequate equipment, not to mention highly professional and qualified personnel.
That’s why our common commitment since that tragic day in October 2001 is also our motto “so as not to forget””
In February we face the final verdict at the Supreme Court; we hope it won’t become our Odyssey, but that justice will prevail and the law will be upheld.
Thank-you