At last, almost a year after its recasting, at 10 am on 25 May 1940 Maria Dolens left Verona, with all the honours of the armed forces and a huge crowd paying homage, although the great farewell planned in the city's Roman Arena had to be cancelled.

Don Rossaro had quickly realised that such an event would turn into a Fascist celebration, and particularly a kind of adhesion to the imminent conflict. "The magnificent military parade", he wrote in his diary, "passed through the streets [of Verona] between ranks of the emotional and respectful populace. All greeted the Bell with the Roman Salute. Flowers were thrown from windows... Verona's officials were perfectly absent!... The Bell arrived in Piazza Bra, where everyone rushed out of the cafés and shops to see it pass. 


A moving and picturesque scene: all the pigeons in the great square, almost as if they had planned it, rose in mass flight and circled low over the Bell..." The Bell of the Fallen then left Verona for its journey to Rovereto, constantly welcomed and fêted along the way.

"Through the various villages and towns", the diary continues, "the Bell of the Fallen was greeted enthusiastically.

– “This would have been far greater had the populace not been depressed and beset by the terror of the imminent war, and by ongoing conscription. Wherever the Bell rested, this phrase could always be heard: ‘Maybe it'll ring for my son!’ A splendid welcome in Ala: a band, banners in the windows, massive crowd. Estimated 4,000 people! In Lizzanella: banners in the windows. Guarded all night by soldiers”.