Mercedes was born on 15 October 1922, her mother was from Appignano and her father was from Bologna and related to a famous circus family, the Orfeis. Her full name, Mercedes Linda Proletaria ndt proletarian, testifies its origin from a family of ” political agitators”, as she loved to call them. Her circus background, which she was very proud of, was apparent in her open, creative and indipendent nature. A passion for freedom that led her to become a partisan freedom fighter, carrying messages to all those involved in the resistance in the Castel di Lama, Castignano and Appignano area. She joined the resistance in 1943, offering shelter and protection to prisoners who escaped from the Servigliano concentration camp. She described herself as christian, but not catholic, rebellious and communist and, during her last public appearances, she told the youths: “Telling my story is hard because these memories are terrible, but even today at my age, I would still be a partisan… Now my future is just my past and talking about my past is something good for young people”.
Mercedes passed away in Offida on February 17, 2015.
The town council of Appignano del Tronto dedicated this space to her on 2 June 2019. (Ndt Italian national republic day)

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