Monégasque Croix Rouge in Italy
Fourteen members of the Croix Rouge Monégasque (Red Cross of Monaco) were special guests at a national celebration organized by the Croce Verde (Green Cross) team in the France-Italian border town of Ventimiglia yesterday. The occasion was International Charity and Volunteers Day which is celebrated in Italy every year with key towns taking it in turns to host the event. The day has special significance for volunteers in Italy as they play a key role in maintaining a 24-hour ambulance and emergency service which in other countries is run by professional, fully-paid up people. There are several organizations – Croce Rossa (red), Croce Verde (green), Croce Azzurra (blue), Croce Bianca (white) and others – who between them cover every inch of Italy. Key personnel are salaried but the majority gives up their spare time to become part of a roster and be on standby for emergency call-outs. “La Giornata della Carita” is an opportunity to hand out awards and express the country’s gratitude to this group of citizens. Some 38 groups paraded with their flags and emblems through the streets of Ventimiglia to attend a special mass before returning to the Piazza della Liberta for a buffet-style lunch of typical Liguria specialties. A two-hour presentation ceremony followed.