1Lt Meli Plaque
Details:
The plaque is mounted on the wall at the left side of the entrance door. Plaque A bordered black plaque inscribed in German text commemorating the sacrifice of 1LT Salvatore Meli who stayed with his plane (after something went wrong with the plane) instead of ejecting over the village in 1956. Meli chose not to eject from the cockpit, a decision that saved lives.
Monument Text:
ZUR ERINNERUNG AN
1ST. LT. SALVATORE ANGELO MELI
DER HIER AM 14.NOVEMBER 1956
MIT SEINEM FLUGZEUG ABSTÜRZTE UND ZU TODE KAM.
SEIN SELBSTLOSER EINSATZ BEWAHRTE UNSERE GEMEINDE
VOR EINER GROSSEN KATASTROPHE.
DIE BÜRGERINNEN UND BÜRGER WERDEN IHM DESHALB
STETS EIN DANKBARES UND EHRENDES
ANDENKEN BEWAHREN.
English translation:
IN REMEMBRANCE OF
1LT SALVATORE ANGELO MELI
WHO CAME TO HIS DEATH IN THE CRASH OF HIS PLANE,
AND THROUGH HIS SELFLESS ACT SAVED OUR VILLAGE
FROM A LARGER CATASTROPHE. OUR CITIZENS WILL
ALWAYS HOLD HIM IN THANKFUL AND HONORABLE
REMEMBRANCE.