The men and women serving at the Brindisi Airport Detachment gathered around the Heavenly Patroness of the Italian Air Force
The ceremony, which began with the raising of the flag, continued with the reading of congratulatory messages sent by the Higher Authorities and proceeded with the presentation of the diploma and the “Mauritian Medal for fifty years of military career” to some serving and retired Non-Commissioned Officers. Subsequently, Colonel Giambattista Degiuli, Commander of the Detachment, accompanied by a delegation of airport personnel, laid a commemorative wreath in the chapel of the city cemetery dedicated to the Virgin of Loreto. Monsignor Giuseppe Satriano, Vicar General of the Diocese of Brindisi/Ostuni, then celebrated Holy Mass at the airport church, invoking “the protection of the Virgin Mary for the Commander, the personnel and their families”Finally, turning a moving thought to the fallen who sacrificed their lives in the service of the Fatherland.
The event was attended by the Prefect of Brindisi, Nicola Prete, the religious, civil and military authorities of the city, the personnel of the Detachment and of the Italian Air Force bodies stationed in Brindisi, as well as representatives of retired personnel and the standards of the Brindisi Section of the Italian Air Force Association, “MOVM Pilot Lt. Leonardo Ferrulli”, and the Francavilla Fontana Section, ”MBVM Maj. Gen. Tommaso Cannalire”.
The programme of celebrations in honour of the Holy Patroness concluded in the evening with the concert “Note colorate d'azzurro”, held by maestro Giampaolo Argentieri, director of the “San Leucio” archiepiscopal polyphonic choir of Brindisi, and by several female students of the “Tito Schipa” conservatoire of Lecce, who performed a repertoire that was greatly appreciated by the large audience in attendance.
