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Italian garden appeal
28/05/2008
First Minister Alex Salmond today attended the launch of a fundraising appeal to create a memorial garden for Scots Italians in Glasgow.
Mr Salmond joined the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Glasgow Mario Conti at the city's St Andrew's Cathedral.
The FM said:
"I am delighted to stand beside Archbishop Conti to help launch the fundraising appeal to support plans for the Scots Italian Cloister Garden.
"The garden will be more than a place for relaxation and meditation in Glasgow. It will celebrate the contribution of thousands of Italian nationals or Scots of Italian descent living in Scotland - past and present. This includes the 446 Italians who tragically lost their lives in the sinking of the Arandora Star during the Second World War.
"The garden will serve as a memorial to those men who were taken away from their homes, their families and their lives in Scotland following Italy's entry into the war. I wish Archbishop Conti and all those involved in the project the very best and look forward to seeing the Garden once completed."