General Goretti: “This banner encapsulates the idea of the Homeland and the founding principles of our being military in service to the Institutions and the community.”
It was held on Tuesday 7 November, at the military airport of Rome Centocelle, in the presence of Chief of the Air Force Staff, Air Force Air Division General Luca Goretti, the ceremony of 100 years since the presentation of the War Flag to the Air Force.
The ceremony, held at War Memorial, began with the’Flagpole solemn, accompanied by the notes of the National Anthem played by Italian Air Force Band. Following this, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, together with the Commander of the Rome Air Force Command (COMAER), Air Squadra General Giandomenico Taricco, attended the Laying of a wreath at the base of the monument, as a sign of due respect for those who, in defence of the country, dedicated their lives to the ultimate sacrifice.
The solemnity of the moment was sealed by the words of the General Goretti che, with a brief historical excursus, wanted to recall how “It was 4 November 1923 when, right here at this airfield, the Tricolore was handed over by the Commander of the Airship and Dirigible Grouping to the future Chief of Staff of the Royal Air Force, General Pier Ruggero Piccio.”.
Referring then to the role of Silent guardian of the memory of our fallen incarnate by Flag, the General stressed that “This banner encapsulates the idea of the Homeland and the founding principles of our military being in service to the Institutions and the community, inspiring values that unite us and guide our daily actions, allowing us to strive towards those ideals that must necessarily be part of our cultural heritage.”.
The speech by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force then continued with an exhortation to the men and women of the Air Force, “highly qualified representatives”of which he was very proud for the exemplary and silent self-sacrifice and sense of responsibility: “We are ready to defend this wealth, even at the cost of our lives, and we must always be prepared to the best of our ability, ethically and professionally, to face the most unexpected and complex challenges, as the current crises in Eastern Europe and the nearby Middle East demonstrate, with confidence and determination, firm in our principles and serene in the certainty of our values. Always be faithful to the Flag now displayed here, honour at all times the oath taken before it, and continue to dedicate yourselves with humility and practicality, always striving for constant and continuous improvement of your professional skills, to allow our units to operate effectively both at home and beyond national borders.”.
Until the end of the Second World War, the Flag had been kept in a wooden chest, which is now on display at the Museum of Vigna di Valle. After the institutional referendum, it was later modified to represent the Republic and placed, together with all the decorations and awards attributed to it, in a special glass display case at Aeronautica Palace, a Roman.
