THE PLANE CRASH OF OLGIATE OLONA (ITALY) OF JUNE 26, 1959

 

The educational project at “Dante Alighieri” school of Olgiate Olona

 

 

In order to provide continuity and sightedness to the memory of June 26, 1959, an educational project has been started in 2010 thanks to the intuition of Alberto Colombo supported by Beato Contardo Ferrini Institute and by the Municipality of Olgiate Olona. The project is addressed to the students in the eighth-grade of Dante Alighieri school and consists of: a multimedia conversation in the classroom about the historical fact and the commemorative events, dialog with the students, screening of the video of song Olgiate Olona, 26 Giugno 1959 composed by Nicola Puddu; production of a work written in Italian language follows. The works in poetry and prose are received anonymous; then they are selected and judged by a jury outside the school; the most deserving works - those which best reflect the historical fact and the commemorative events - are rewarded during the commemoration of June the 26. Because of their exceptional nature, some works received a Special award offered personally by Alberto Colombo with the authorization of Olgiate Olona mayor.

 

school year:

 

2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2019/20 | 2018/19 | 2017/18

 

2016/17 | 2015/16 | 2014/15 | 2013/14 | 2012/13 | 2011/12 | 2010/11 | 2009/10

 

 

 

 

Commemoration of June 26, 2025 - Ginevra Tornello, second classified


Commemoration of June 26, 2025 - Alice Favata, third classified

Educational project school year 2024-2025

 

In 2025, the educational project in memory of the plane crash was addressed to all the 127 students in the eighth grade of Dante Alighieri school.

 

 

First classified, the poem Preghiera di una mamma by NICOLE TONELLI:

 

Preghiera di una mamma
(a mother’s prayer)

 

That unexpected day, when you didn’t arrive, my heart collapsed.
Sitting in a corner I think of your beautiful face: I miss you.
Since you’re gone a deafening silence resounds in my head, a destructive void in me.
My angel, shield me on hard days and always protect me.
In the darkness of the night, my star, I watch you shine in love with your radiant eyes.
When I pass by the street, I see the monument and your memory explodes in me.

 

Second classified, the poem Luce by GINEVRA TORNELLO:

 

Luce
(light)

 

A light
suddenly illuminated Olgiate Olona sky.
A light
broke your dreams and ended your lives.
A light
caused pain and despair in people, who will no longer be able to hug you.
A light.
A light
suddenly enveloped you.
A light
illuminated your new path.
A light
made you eternal.
A light
made you stars.
The strength of your light
will illuminate the sky for eternity.
All we can do is
observe your immensity and remember your names.

 

Third classified, the poem Ricordo immortale by ALICE FAVATA:

 

Ricordo immortale
(immortal memory)

 

At a certain point I collapsed,
in the blazing thunder, in the bitter wind.
In a thousand pieces I was broken
burning the sky with a rare flash.
But time listens, time writes
and human lives mark the day,
because each one lives again
in our memory.
Our names resonate with emotion,
in the sky that belongs to us,
during a moment of commemoration
that keeps us alive.

 

 

Commemoration of June 26, 2025
The students authors the deserving works awarded with the teachers of Literature and other teachers, the deputy mayor of Olgiate Olona, the mayor of Livraga, the relatives of Thomas Billiani and the coordinators of the promoting staff of the commemorative events

 

 

Documents and articles related to the educational project 2024-2025

 

July 2, 2025 - Article published in La prealpina

 

Olgiate Olona, premi in memoria della tragedia aerea

 

June 27, 2025 - Article published in IlBustese.it

 

Olgiate Olona ricorda il disastro aereo del 1959 e le 70 vittime immortali

 

Commemoration of June 26, 2025 - 66th anniversary

 

Presentation of book edited by Alberto Colombo

 

June 17, 2025 - Article published in PrimaSaronno.it

 

Disastro aereo, la cerimonia il 26 giugno per tenere vivo il ricordo

 

June 13, 2025 - Article published in La Settimana

 

Disastro aereo, la cerimonia il 26 giugno

 

June 10, 2025 - Article published in LaProvinciaDiVarese.it

 

Olgiate Olona ricorda le vittime del disastro aereo del 1959: cerimonia per il 66° anniversario il 26 giugno

 

June 9, 2025 - Article published in Varese7Press.it

 

Olgiate Olona ricorda il disastro aereo del 1959: un anniversario tra memoria e speranza

 

June 9, 2025 - Article published in VareseNews.it

 

Il ricordo dell’incidente di Olgiate Olona, il peggior disastro aereo avvenuto intorno a Malpensa

 

June 9, 2025 - Article published in Malpensa24.it

 

Olgiate Olona commemora il disastro aereo del ’59. Gli studenti in prima linea

 

June 9, 2025 - Article published in IlBustese.it

 

Olgiate Olona ricorda il disastro aereo del 1959 con una cerimonia e un volume dedicato ai giovani

 

February 22, 2025 - Article published in PrimaSaronno.it

 

Quindicesima edizione del progetto didattico alla memoria del disastro aereo del 1959

 

February 8, 2025 - Article published in La prealpina

 

In memoria del disastro aereo