It opens up energy from every pore of the skin and grinta to sell the beautiful Mrs. Concetta Mauro Martinez Montinaro, better known as ‘Tina’. Tina Montinaro for the purpose.
A name, his, which refers to the massacre of Capaci, that date of 23 May 1992, where along with other police officers who were escorting to the Falcone magistrate also lost his husband Antonio Montinaro. But he does not like to feel called “the widow Montinaro” because – his words – he speaks to us every day, filling his life. Also, talking about it all the time to his two children is a way to feel it always beside him.
Awarded to the last edition of the “Just Woman Harmony Award “, coming to the 11th edition, in the category of Social and Civil Commitment and urged by our questions, he tells of being Neapolitan, that his wife was a beautiful boy from Lecce, deciding to stay in Palermo for pure ideology.
Not by chance on the stage the figure of an enterprising woman came out, strong, determined, despite the vicissitudes known.
“Well… sensitization is very important and with pleasure always received great feedback. From the boys, mainly schoolgirls, we want to seize their attention, curiosity, ask questions looking around. In Palermo all professors do an incredible job, they talk about it all the time thanks to the “Legal Project”. However there is still so much to do; despite the many arrests the mafia is not yet defeated, has changed its face, it is no longer the one before but exists. And therefore I carry the ‘Memoria’, a commitment that takes care of me a lot but that I carry with great pleasure thanks to the project “Quarto Savona Fici”, name taken from the car of escort on which that day Antonio traveled along with Vito Schifani and Rocco Dicillo. Every occasion is good to talk about it, also having the privilege of being aggregated in police for the memory of all the victims of duty. So, I repeat, I tour all police schools and also elaborate various projects such as olive harvesting, in collaboration with a school in Palermo and a juvenile prison.”.
Interesting, do you want to keep talking to us?
“Of course! It is a beautiful thing, since the ‘Capaci’ Oil, recalling that place where much blood was shed, is distributed in churches all over Italy with so much of Sacramenti given precisely with the splendid green liquid. A summer colony will soon come to life thanks to the donation of a seized seat to the mafia, in the marine area near Bagheria, accompanying inconvenienced children and children of prisoners. For me, as you will understand, it is vital to live the territory. As for the awards, yes, with my husband we had a lot of them, but I’m mostly the cop’s wife. ”
“The policeman is the people and I am part of that people who are in the midst of people I understand the real problems of people. Bringing memories is the most important thing in our lives, in our country, telling my suffering and my pain. Pain that I cannot share, despite the memory must be collective, belong to all of us. Who has no memory returns back making the same mistakes; we can’t afford it anymore”
Giovanni Falcone had told his omen that he knew he had a short life.
“Eh… I think so, in interviews released 10 days earlier, with tranquility he observed: ‘The day they come, I will be harvested with the teaspoon, nothing will remain of me.’ Not by chance we talk about highly aware men: there is their greatness because while knowing that it could happen, they did not take a step back. This is when young people must understand the importance of courage.”.
One day… near, far away, will the mob be fought?
“It will be fought if such will exists. Personally I am confident, the messages we give them and in schools this phenomenon is discussed enormously.”.
Does evil always lose?
“It’s good to be positive. My boys grew up and are two wonderful creatures, my columns. My life has gone on with so much of a wonderful granddaughter. ”
Mrs. Tina, have you been asked to enter politics?
“Yes, many times even if the most beautiful thing given by my husband is freedom. Freedom of speech, to be able to say what I want. I demand my rights along with the rights of others and I commit myself to this. I am a free woman and I want to stay!”
Speaking to her comes out a real force. Let’s end this long conversation by observing that Antonio Montinaro was exposed for his professional duty albeit in the awareness of paying a very high price.
“He said well, as a professional duty. Those who enter the police, the police, finish the course and make an oath to the Italian Republic and the ‘Bandiera’. The choice to be part of the escort to the doctor Falcone was by Antonio: He wouldn’t want to do anything else and I’m proud of him I understand the importance of his work. The choice of that 29-year-old boy who jumps into the air gave us the opportunity to walk high-headed filling us with pride. ”
At the end of interview we turn off the camera by understanding the great thirst that feeds such lady. But not thirst for revenge, but of truth.
The article “I am not the widow Montinaro”: The story of Tina, wife of the dead cop with Falcone comes from IlNewyorkese.
