On March 17, 1861, the Italian state was born in Turin following the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy with the coronation of Victor Emmanuel II. The official name given to the anniversary, as reported on the government website, is "Day of National Unity, Constitution, Anthem and Flag."

On March 17, 1861 in Parliament it was announced, "The Senate and the Chamber of Deputies have approved; we promulgate the following: Victor Emmanuel II assumes for himself and his successors the title of King of Italy. We order that the present, bearing the seal of the State, shall be inserted in the collection of government acts, mandating anyone entitled to observe and enforce it as a Law of the State."

In 1860 Camillo Benso Conte di Cavour, head of the government, completed the unification process by secretly supporting the expedition of the Thousand led by Giuseppe Garibaldi.

The anniversary of March 17 invites us to keep alive our collective memory, a precious heritage that allows us to understand the present and build the future. Transmitting the values of our culture and society to new generations means rooting them in history and a sense of belonging to an indivisible nation.

March 17 is a time for civic education, an opportunity to reflect on the principles on which our Republic is founded: the anti-fascist Constitution, the Mameli Anthem, and the Tricolor. These symbols represent the ideal of a united and free Nation that animated the Risorgimento and the Resistance.

Happy Birthday, Italy!