Remembering - 81 years since the death of Legnano partisan Mauro Venegoni: "A legend that never dies" - - Varese News

"In this era in which so much of politics seems distant from us and in which only half the population goes to vote, we cannot be indifferent to the example of a man who always knew how to be consistent with his ideas, paying the price personally ." With these words, Dario Venegoni , nephew of the partisan Mauro Venegoni and president of ANED (National Association of Former Deportees), opened his moving speech during the commemoration of the 81st anniversary of his uncle's killing, which occurred on 31 October 1944 .

The ceremony took place on Sunday, October 26, 2025 , in Cassano Magnago , near the memorial dedicated to the partisan along the Busto Arsizio–Cassano Magnago road, where his body was buried after his assassination. The commemoration, organized by the municipalities of Cassano Magnago, Legnano, and Busto Arsizio , opened with a procession accompanied by the Cassano Magnago Band and the laying of a wreath at the monument. Giuliano Celin, Vice President of ANPI Legnano , introduced the speeches, opening the program with a greeting from the mayor of Cassano Magnago, Pietro Ottaviani .

Young people and memory

Also taking part were the students of the Dante Alighieri secondary school in Legnano, and the young people of the Cassano Magnago Children's Municipal Council , who presented reflections born from historical research on the monument dedicated to Mauro Venegoni in their municipality: «This work offered me the opportunity to ask myself how difficult it was for him to choose to be a partisan and to take so many risks for freedom and to understand how lucky we are», said one of the young administrators.

“Symbol of the partisan struggle”

In his speech, Dario Venegoni described his uncle as "a rigorous, courageous man , always faithful to his principles of democracy and freedom . " This is demonstrated by several letters written by Mauro himself and addressed to his family during his internment in the Istonio Marina concentration camp. Among them is one addressed to his brother Guido: "I have already seen so many go home. I am one of those who lacks, and does not want to have, the ability to figure out how to get home. I am here for who I am, because I have my own ideas, and for which I have nothing to reproach myself." He was one of the last to leave the labor camp after the fall of fascism.

Born in Legnano on October 4, 1903, a factory worker with only a sixth-grade education , even in prison he never stopped studying French, German, history, economics, and philosophy: "My uncle firmly believed in the values ​​of work, freedom, equality, and social justice , and even when he was called upon to organize a union in the South and was arrested, he firmly told his family: 'I have done nothing wrong. I have exercised my inalienable right, the right to strike.'"

He was always among the first and always on the front lines when a partisan struggle needed to be organized, and even when he was captured by the Blackshirts 81 years ago and subjected to torture, he never revealed information about the partisan organization , saving hundreds of his comrades: "The truth is that none of us know how he would react in the face of such brutal torture," Dario concluded, "but it is a fact that Mauro did not speak out, and no one after him was arrested because of his confessions. His atrocious death made him a symbol of the partisan struggle, an example for the young people who decided to take up arms against fascism in its name. I would say that he is a legend that never dies, judging by how many of us are here today to remember his commitment." For all this, Mauro Venegoni was awarded the Gold Medal of Military Valor of the Resistance.

The ceremony was accompanied by the performance of some pieces by the Wind Orchestra of the Candiani Bausch High School of Busto Arsizio , directed by maestro Franco Conetta , in a moment of intense emotion and collective reflection.