Gone but not Forgotten

It'sa been 17 years since Sicily's most distinguished anti-Mafia crusader Giovanni Falcone was murdered when his car was blown up by a bomb. The U.S. and Italy still stop and remember his sacrifice.
Steve made a special trip down to Sicily with the previous FBI Director Louis Freeh to remember Judge Falcone, a single man, standing up against a mighty mob.

The bomb was planted underneath this road that leads to the Palermo Airport and a memorial was erected in honor of him.

The Carabinieri led a car brigade for the FBI. They have this paddle (a modern day magic wand) that they hang out the window which makes all traffic come to a stop while they honored Judge Falcone.

The FBI and Falcone have strong ties. Falcone realized that cooperation with American authorities was very important, since the Mafia is an international organization. Before Falcone's efforts, little progress had been made in prosecuting Sicilian Mafiosi who moved about in the United States, particularly in the New York area, without being traced by Italian authorities or identified by American ones. Later, the success of the "Pizza Connection" trial in the United States owed much to Falcone's efforts in Italy.

Thousand gathered at this church for the Falcone memorial. In everyone's hands were long stemmed roses.

They held these roses over their heads the whole service. A long stemmed rose means "I will remember you always," and it signifies a love that runs deep and is long lasting--- fitting sentiments from the Sicilian people still plagued by Mafia.

The "unconnected" citizens regard Falcone, the Palermitan, as a folk hero because he continued his fight against the Mafia despite threats and several attempts to end his life. Even with languishing government support, Falcone and his staff continued their work with American authorities and the the Anti-Mafia Pool headquartered in Rome.

Here is Steve at a meeting where the city of Palermo and it's children came and honored the deceased judge.

Afterwards they went in another motor cade to visit a close friend of Judge Falcone, Paolo Borsellino. This magistrate was also killed in a bomb attack a few months after Falcone.

In recognition of their efforts in the anti-mafia trials, their memory was honored with the Italian "Medaglia d'oro al valor civile" (Golden medal for civil valor). Falcone and Borsellino were named as heroes of the last 60 years in the November 2006 issue of Time Magazine.

Sicily is a beautiful island. Steve fell in love with it when he served in Palermo on his mission.

He still loves the people and continues doing his part in helping stop the mafia.

It is an uphill battle but one worth digging in deep and fighting for to protect Italy and America.

Even when things look dark, there is always a glimmer of hope-- especially when there is one law man willing to give up the comforts of home and life of ease to remain and stand up against a continuing evil.