2023-07-17 17:14:00
Sixty-six years following the Marcinelle mining disaster, the son of a former miner has just obtained permission from the mayor of his father’s native village to install a mine wagon to commemorate the memory of local children who left to work in Belgian coal mines.
“My father, Giovanni, was 25 years old when he left his town of Muro Lucano, in the province of Potenza (Basilicata region), says Vincenzo Mentino. He arrived in 1952 in Limburg, in Waterschei, to working in size, before continuing his career in Charleroi.Several of his friends moved with him, from the Argentino, Cardonne, Scaringi, Cerone, Guerra, Cardillo, Scarinella, Ceccia, Lamorte, Pompei, Muro Lucano families… My father died in 2001 of silicosis, he rests in the cemetery of Jumet Gohyssart.”
A fire truck in 2016
Honored with the title of master of work in 2012, Vincenzo Mentino had restored an old firefighter vehicle to offer it to the Bois du Cazier, in 2016, as part of the 60th anniversary of August 8, 1956. This time, he bought an old mine cart to a demolisher to restore it.
“After renovation, I sent it by truck to Muro Lucano whose mayor had come last year to the commemorations of the anniversary of the tragedy. I offered to install the wagon in the street which leads to the castle of the village to recall the memory of our parents who made the sacrifice of leaving their village to go and work in the mines. The project was accepted.”
“We are also preparing a photo exhibition in tribute to these coal soldiers, with the participation of their families, continues Vincenzo Mentino. I’m an administrator. Documentation has finally been made available to me for this event.”
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