May 7, 2016
On Saturday, May 7th, PAO Chris Wurst participated in the commemoration ceremonies organized in Friuli for the 40th anniversary of the devastating 1976 earthquake, which left more than 1,000 dead and more than 150,000 homeless. The Consulate’s participation in the ceremony held in Majano was covered in local media.
The online edition of Il Messaggero Veneto reported that “[…] The representative of the U.S. Consulate General in Milan Christopher Wurst highlighted the burst of generosity toward Friuli [which came] from across the Ocean after the earthquake: 100 million dollars that contributed to the reconstruction.” The official website of the Region published a press release listing the participation of the U.S. Consulate in the ceremony in Majano along with the President of the Region Debora Serracchiani.
Later that evening the PAO attended a commemorative concert in Gemona, the epicenter of the earthquake. The concert was televised, and attended by Friulan government officials, the diplomatic corps, and rescue workers.
