San Giuliano di Puglia, (Province of Campobasso, in the southern Region of Molise) capital of "olive oil region".
Two days after Christmas, my wife and I set out from Florence to San Giuliano di Puglia, the town badly hit by the October earthquake, in order to deliver the money that I had collected from many of you. I had purchased a check in Boston (the money had been deposited into an account as I received it) two or three days before I left for Italy, but on the 18th of December two more faculty members gave me a check and some cash, which I could not add the original check already purchased. So, I decided that with this extra money and with a little more that I put in, I could buy two cases of chocolate bars for the children. This decision delayed our departure from Florence until 10 a.m. on Dec, 27. I had put off buying the chocolates, and on Dec. 26 (Santo Stefano) everything was closed, so we had to wait until the supermarkets opened on the 27th. The trip took longer than I had anticipated, despite the fact that it was all highway driving (except for the last 30 miles or so), and that we averaged 80 mph.
We arrived at about 3:45, and, as we approached, we could see a town sitting on a hill, although we were actually higher. We could see wooden buildings in an area of the town, but it turned out that this was not San Giuliano, but Santa Croce, the village where many of San Giuliano's inhabitants had been relocated. The wooden buildings were temporary housing. This town was reachable by a side road, because, as we followed the main road, we arrived to San Giuliano. The two villages are about one mile apart. As we approached the first houses we were stopped by soldiers and firemen. Nobody could enter the town. From that point we could see destroyed houses down the main street, but from a distance the town looks well. All the buildings that are standing are so badly damaged that they are either being demolished or repaired if repairable. We asked were we could find the mayor, and the soldiers pointed to a large prefabricated building that looked like a sports complex. We entered and found a wide open space where in different sections people were at desks. The center was empty, and at one point we stopped by a large group of relatively young couples who were meeting with government officials. We learned that these were the parents of the 27 children that perished under the rubbles of their school. Several offices were located on the mezzanine level, including the mayor's. We waited about ten minutes, and then we got to talk to the mayor and to the assistant mayor. We explained how the money was collected, and requested that it be used to help rebuild the school, or perhaps to purchase equipment, computers or whatever. We were told that the children that survived were in different places (the school is running in a temporary location, but it was now closed for the holidays). We left the cases of chocolates with the assistant mayor, a young and very warm and gentle person, and he promised that stockings would be filled for the children, and distributed on January 6 (La Befana), the day when Italian children traditionally get their presents. The mayor looked like a very sad person. He had lost a child of his own. We were given a receipt for the check (see copy), and we were thanked warmly. We saw boxes with goods (clothing, toys) coming from all parts of Italy and all parts of the world. The Italian government has also responded efficiently and quickly. The great tragedy is the loss of 27 children and a young teacher. We were able to talk to some of the parents who had by now finished the meeting, and it seemed that they took comfort in talking to us, as if, in some way, we could bring back their children. A man, sad faced, had lost his twin boys, nine years old. We then went to the cemetery (nightfall) where the children are buried one next to the other in niches. All their toys and tons of flowers are at the gravesites. Also a picture of each child (they ranged from 5 to 10 years of age). We saw a young couple in front of a grave, the woman weeping and kissing the picture of her son. We approached, said some comforting words, and were told that they go to the cemetery three times a day, every day (2 months had gone by since that terrible day). It was a sad experience; we could not help being overcome with emotion, and have some tears appear in our eyes. We shook hands and left. By midnight we were back in Florence. THANK YOU for your kind generosity, and God bless.
San Giuliano di Puglia, (Province of Campobasso, in the southern Region of
Molise) capital of "olive oil region".
Approaching San Giuliano
At a distance, toward the center-right: Santa Croce (the beige area is the group of wooden buildings).
Approaching San Giuliano
Very entrance to the town. At the end of the street we could see the rubbles of a house (no zoom in our camera).
My wife in our car as we turned around. The firemen had set up a tent and had put up a Christmas tree.
San Giuliano seen from the prefabricated building where offices had been set up.
Prefabricated building where offices are set up (mayor; civil defense; red cross; fire fighters, etc.)
Shaking hands with the mayor (notice Virgin of Guadalupe on the wall).
Children's graves.
San Giuliano di Puglia
description: Carrying a case of chocolates up to the mayor's office.
description: Check for $2,483 made out to Comune (Town) di San Giuliano di Puglia.
Acknowledgement of receipt of check and statement of thanks.