DAY OF NATIONAL UNITY AND THE ARMED FORCES

The celebrations for November 4th began this morning: “National Unity Day” and “Armed Forces Day”. The ceremony included the raising of the flag and the laying of an olive wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Altare della Patria by the President of the Republic. President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, The celebrations for the November 4th, “National Unity Day” and “Armed Forces Day”. To accompany the Head of State, in addition to Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti, The President of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, Pietro Grasso and Laura Boldrini, the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, the President of the Constitutional Court Giuseppe Tesauro and the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli, and the Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces were present at the ceremony – which celebrates the 96th anniversary of the end of the First World War and demonstrates the country’s closeness to the Armed Forces – attended by political, civil, religious, Combatant and Arms Associations, and was attended by numerous citizens. On the notes of the Silence, the passage of the Frecce Tricolori. New this year is the inclusion within the ceremony of the awards presentation by President Napolitano. All the units armed to the teeth were present, The President of the Republic has presented the Cross of Knight of the Military Order of Italy (OMI) to the war flag of the 6th Squadron of the Air Force of Ghedi (Brescia). and the Gold Medal for Military Valor to Corporal Major Andrea Adorno, chosen by the Army. See the photo gallery of the ceremony at the Altare della Patria Read the news on the website of the Presidency of the Republic Read the news on the Ministry of Defence website Watch the video “November 4, 2014: National Unity Day and Day of the Armed Forces”