This morning, at the Telese Thermal Baths, a preparatory meeting was held in anticipation of the upcoming exhibition “Flashes in the Night”, an ambitious international project dedicated to preserving the historical memory of the Telesina Valley during World War II. As a testament to the growing interest this initiative is generating overseas, U.S. military personnel—including officers and colonels—traveled directly from the United States to inspect the locations designated for the exhibition and to visit various towns in the Telesina Valley that will be involved in future events linked to the project. Particularly noteworthy was the on-site inspection of the former sulfur water bottling plant at the Telese Thermal Baths, which is set to be transformed into an evocative and symbolically rich exhibition space. The visit sparked great enthusiasm among the American representatives, who were deeply moved by the symbolic value and evocative power of the site, which served as a base camp for the 45th Infantry Division “Thunderbirds” in 1943.
Alongside the American delegation, NATO military representatives were also in attendance. They expressed strong interest in the initiative and are currently collaborating with the organizers to plan an official opening ceremony to be attended by high-ranking Italian and international institutional and military authorities. This adds further prestige to a project that is increasingly establishing itself as a landmark event for the historical memory and cultural heritage of the region, with broad international resonance.
“Lampi nella notte” is an initiative promoted by the Historical Institute of the Sannio Telesino, led by President Emilio Bove, and warmly endorsed by the Mayor of Telese Terme, Giovanni Caporaso, along with the entire Municipal Administration and entrepreneur Dr. Filippo Liverini, who recognized its significant cultural, educational, and touristic value. The project was born out of the desire to recount, through unpublished photographs and documents sourced from U.S. military archives, private collections of American soldiers from Oklahoma, and Italian archives, the lesser-known and profound story of the bond between the local population and the American soldiers during the Italian Campaign. The 45th Division, which included over two thousand Native American soldiers from more than fifty tribes, is one of the most celebrated divisions in the U.S. Army, playing a key role in liberating the Telesina Valley in October 1943, and later the Dachau concentration camp in 1945.
To ensure a rigorous and engaging approach, an interdisciplinary technical committee has been established, comprising high-profile figures such as: Alfredo Minieri, President of Impresa Minieri S.p.A., Amedeo Pacelli, cultural promoter and founder of the “Fioridizucca” center, David D’Andrea, university professor and historian at the University of Oklahoma, Tonino Conte, local professor, scholar, and researcher, Giuseppe Angelone, adjunct professor at the University of Molise and expert in historical and social sciences, Architect Emilio Franco, who contributes to the exhibition/museum design and overall coordination
The exhibition, which will be inaugurated in the summer of 2025 and remain open until the fall, will offer an emotional and immersive journey. Through narrative panels, historical videos, never-before-seen photographs, artifacts, installations, musical events, and cultural gatherings, visitors will be guided on a true voyage between past and present. There will also be a number of impactful side events, such as meetings with historians and eyewitnesses, artistic performances, educational workshops for schools, guided tours, and moments of collective reflection, all aimed at engaging the entire community of the Telesina Valley.
"Lampi Nella Notte" will not be just an exhibition, but a cultural event of international significance—an opportunity to restore memory, to build bridges between generations, and to create a new sense of historical awareness through the eyes and faces of those who lived through those times. It will be an act of restitution, an invitation to look at the past with authenticity—far from rhetoric and close to lived experience—so that memory may become a shared and living heritage.
Mayor Giovanni Caporaso expressed clear enthusiasm: “Lampi Nella Notte" represents much more than an exhibition for Telese Terme: it is a bridge between past and present, a valuable opportunity to restore dignity and visibility to a fundamental chapter of our history. Welcoming a military delegation from the United States and NATO confirms the international significance of this project and demonstrates how shared memory can still bring people together. Telese,” Caporaso added, “is proud and ready to host this event, firmly believing that culture is a powerful tool for building awareness, cohesion, and a better future. I would like to thank the Historical Institute of the Sannio Telesino, the entire technical committee, and all those who are contributing with expertise and passion to the realization of an initiative that will bring honor to our community and to the entire Telesina Valley.”
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