After the conclusion of the war operations in the vast landing area, the grounds remained littered with corpses, bombs and unexploded mines, requiring a delicate and risky removal process. Mother Lucia, with divine faith and courage, decided to venture into recovery, also influenced by a premonitory dream of eight soldiers asking to be brought back to their mothers with blood on their hands. Born in 1887 in Sant'Arcangelo, Maria Lucia Pisapia married Carlo Apicella in 1912 and, during the Second World War, distinguished herself for her humanitarian commitment.

After the landing of the Allies and the German resistance, Mamma Lucia, armed with a shovel and bags, walked the hills looking for the fallen. Finding one, she treated it with maternal care, placed it in a drawer and, with the information from the dog tag, contacted the Italian authorities for the return of the bodies to the roots. Indifferent to nationality, he considered everyone "mama's boys". Around 800 bodies, thanks to his commitment, returned to the mothers of Europe, especially in Germany. This act of universal piety and motherhood, despite initial misunderstandings, became a beloved and universal symbol. Mamma Lucia received honors, including the Gold Medal from the President of the Republic, was defined as "The Mother of the Fallen" by the Germans and became an icon in Cava. Upon her death in 1982, the entire city paid homage to her with respect and emotion in the Reception Room of the City Palace.