Solemn ceremony for the presentation of the Institute Flag to the 4th Brigade of Borgo Piave and of the Gold Medals for Aeronautic Valour to the War Flag of the 3rd Wing of Villafranca and to the Aeronautical Military Health Service

This morning, during a solemn ceremony, the School Flag to the 4th Brigade of Telecommunications and Air Defence Systems and Flight Assistance of Borgo Piave (LT). During the ceremony, the following were also awarded: Gold Medals for Aeronautical Valour to the War Flag of the 3rd Wing of Villafranca di Verona and to the Health Service of the Air Force Logistics Command.

Presiding over the ceremony, which took place on the grounds of the 4th Brigade in Borgo Piave, the Undersecretary of State for Defence, Senator Isabella Rauti, in the presence of Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Force General Luca Goretti.

After the military funeral honours were paid to the War Flag of the 3rd Wing and the Institutional Flag of the 70th Wing, the Episcopal Vicar of the Air Force, Monsignor Antonio Coppola, representing the Military Ordinary for Italy, blessed the Standard of the 4th Brigade of Telecommunications and Systems for Air Defence and Aviation., thus preceding the most solemn moment of the ceremony: the handing over of the Flag to the Commander of the 4th Brigade, Brigadier General Sandro Sanasi, received directly from the hands of the Undersecretary of State for Defence, a passage that thus officially sanctioned the allocation of the Standard to the Department. The solemnity of the moment was sealed by the oath of loyalty to the Flag by all the Brigade's personnel.

During the ceremony the following were also presented Medals Gold Medal of Aeronautical Valour to the War Flag of the 3rd Wing of Villafranca (VR) and to the Air Force Medical Service. The two Medals were awarded by President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, for the support provided to the population during the dramatic moments due to the emergency generated by the spread of COVID-19.

“Today's ceremony holds immense symbolic and substantial significance, not only for the 4th Brigade but for the entire Air Force.”, these are the first words of Chief of the Air Staff during his speech.“This drape – continued General Goretti – encompasses the idea of Pthe guiding principles of our being military in service to the Institutions and the community, providing values that unite us and inspire our daily actions, allowing us to aspire towards those ideals of reference, which must necessarily form part of the individual and collective identity of those who have chosen to serve the nation in uniform.’AReturn Merchandise Authorization ABlue”. Finally, regarding the presentation of the Medals for Aeronautic Valour, General Goretti concluded: ”The honours conferred today represent the Institutions“ acknowledgement of gratitude towards all those who, with absolute loyalty and in extremely risky conditions, have ensured the necessary ”operational security" without interruption, for the good of our beloved Country.”.

Following this, the Senator Rauti, who said: “Proud to share this solemn moment with the Air Force family. It is on days like today that we must proudly renew our sense of belonging to Italy, a great nation, our being Italian, a great people. Generous and strong.. The Tricolour – he continued – It is the symbol of honour, military valour, traditions, history, and the remembrance of the Fallen. It is also the symbol of the freedoms won by Italy and its people. Therefore, it is a symbol of unity, national identity, and the highest ideals of the Fatherland. The Flag embodies the high values of our Constitution.”The Undersecretary of State for Defence then thanked the men and women of the Blue Arm.“who have been on the front line, both domestically and abroad, during the Covid emergency, in support of Civil Protection and other state bodies, and who defend, with commitment, every day, the Italian skies and those of the Alliance. Without this commitment, it would be impossible to face the increasingly complex challenges in the scenarios we are experiencing and in the operational environments in which we are engaged.”.

The History of the Banner assigned to the 4th Brigade, began on 24 April 1989, the date on which, by decree of the President of the Republic, the Flag was awarded to the Telecommunications and Flight Assistance Technical Training Department of the Air Force, based at Pratica di Mare airport, where it remained until the Department's disbandment on 28 February 2007. The undeniable continuity of institutional tasks between the disbanded Pratica di Mare Department and the 4th Brigade of Borgo Piave led to the decision to reassign the Flag, which since 2007 has been kept at the Shrine of the Flags of the Armed Forces in Rome, at the Vittoriano complex, to the 4th Brigade of Borgo Piave. 

The War Flag, or Regimental Flag, accompanies a military unit from peacetime. It is the symbol of the honour of the military unit that guards it and represents its traditions, its history, and the memory of its fallen soldiers. 

Gold Medals for Aeronautical Valour, the reasons for granting:

3rd Wing of Villafranca – Verona

During the emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they operated on the front lines of aid to communities affected by the contagion. In coordination with Civil Protection, they very quickly set up field hospitals with intensive care units in Cremona and near Schiavonia (PD). Concurrently, healthcare personnel from the Wing joined teams for the aerial transport of infected patients in biocontainment, personally and directly exposing themselves to risk for their safety. At the same time, at Pratica di Mare (RM) airport, in a high-risk contagion scenario, they used specialised decontamination and disinfection units to set up the initial reception point for compatriots returning from China, ensuring the highly delicate decontamination operations for personnel and aircraft. The contribution provided and the courage shown were decisive and helped to enhance the prestige and honour of the Italian Air Force. Italy, February – June 2020.

Air Force Medical Service

During the COVID-19 pandemic emergency, the Italian Air Force's Medical Service reaffirmed its effectiveness through numerous decisive interventions by its personnel and equipment. With commendable spirit of sacrifice and unconditional commitment, they responded to the crisis, aware of the inherent risks, on a national and international level, and in collaboration with the Civil Protection system. Directly involved in hospitals and providing extensive support activities, they operated with a profound sense of duty, undertaking emergency medical transport in biocontainment. Alongside flight crews, they transported infectious patients, ensuring timely medical care and the transfer of individuals in imminent danger of death, even in extremely challenging environments. In this context, they demonstrated exceptional courage and extreme expertise in the collective interest, contributing decisively to rescue and assistance operations for the civilian population, earning praise and recognition from the national and international community in every instance. Italy, February – June 2020.

Read the news with photos on the Italian Air Force portal at the following link: Handover of the Institute Flag to the 4th Air Defence and Flight Assistance Telecommunications and Systems Brigade of Borgo Piave – Italian Air Force