The ceremony took place at the Aeronautical Detachment Circle. Nationally, ONFA has awarded 40 prizes, 10 of which were presented on Monday 3rd December to students residing in Lazio, during a solemn ceremony presided over by the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Giuseppe Bernardis, held at the Hall of Heroes of Palazzo Aeronautica in Rome.
For the remaining 30 awardees, ONFA has delegated the awarding of the scholarships directly to the Commanders of the peripheral Offices closest to the winners' place of residence, as in the case of the student from Syracuse, who received the award from Lieutenant Colonel Paolo Tredici, Commander of the Aeronautical Detachment of Syracuse, during a simple ceremony attended by a representation of the Unit's personnel and the girl's family.
In his brief speech, Lieutenant Colonel Tredici wished to echo the words used by the President of ONFA, retired General Piergiorgio Crucioli, and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force during the ceremony in Rome, recalling that:“In 2012, the Organisation sponsored 284 dependants, through educational grants which demonstrate the spirit of solidarity and closeness of the serving personnel towards the families of deceased colleagues. This shows how the Air Force, traditionally considered a technological armed force focused on machinery, does not forget that it is made up, first and foremost, of men and women, and as such represents a large family in which, when there is a need, people try to collaborate and provide mutual support.“.
Since 1930, ONFA, with the support of the Air Force and through voluntary contributions from personnel, both serving and retired, as well as benefactors, has assisted, throughout their entire period of education, from nursery school to university, the children of military personnel who have died for any reason.
