Proposal for Honor Award for Vice Brigadier Pietro Scalzone, Calabrian Hero of Civil Rescue

The Presidency of the Republic has received an official proposal for the awarding of an Honor of Merit of the Italian Republic to Vice Brigadier of the Carabinieri Pietro Scalzone, in recognition of his outstanding civic, moral, and human values demonstrated during his service. The proposal, submitted to the Office of Honors and Heraldry, highlights acts of extraordinary promptness and dedication that have made a decisive difference in the lives of citizens.

The submission is also based on a moving public testimony: Domenico Zampogna, grandfather of young Giovanni and a former member of the Carabinieri, recounted live on Canale Italia during the program “Notizie Oggi” hosted by Massimo Martire how Vice Brigadier Scalzone saved his grandson’s life on December 28, 2023.

Zampogna explained that his decision to speak on television came after watching, on December 25, the program “Fatti per il Cielo” by Don Francesco Cristofaro, which had narrated Scalzone’s heroic intervention in saving a young girl from the sea. While watching the show, he recognized the same officer who months earlier had been crucial during a family emergency.

On that day, young Giovanni suffered a severe respiratory crisis. Panicked, Zampogna rushed him to the Gioia Tauro Hospital; after initial treatment, doctors arranged for his immediate transfer to the Polistena Hospital. The Carabinieri, including Vice Brigadier Scalzone, were present during the emergency. According to Zampogna, Scalzone immediately understood the gravity of the situation and alerted the Polistena Hospital in advance, ensuring the medical team was ready for the child’s arrival—a decisive intervention that saved his life.

Upon arrival at the hospital, the family found the doctors prepared to act. Shortly afterward, the same Carabinieri visited the ward to check on the child, even bringing a small gift: a simple gesture, yet full of humanity and attention to the family.

According to the proposal submitted to the Quirinale, Vice Brigadier Scalzone’s actions go beyond fulfilling professional duty; they embody the fundamental values of the Italian Republic: courage, service, and solidarity. Zampogna’s public testimony restores the most authentic image of the Carabinieri and reinforces the idea that acts of everyday service can become exemplary displays of humanity for the entire nation.