The ceremony was attended by the Minister for Parliamentary Relations, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Mayors of Nervesa della Battaglia and Lugo di Romagna.
On Sunday, 16 June, the commemoration of the 106th anniversary of the passing of the’Ace of Aces, Gold Medal for Military Valour.
At the ceremony, the Minister for Parliamentary Relations Luca Ciriani, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squadrone General Luca Goretti, the Mayor of Nervesa della Battaglia Mara Fontebasso and the Mayor of Lugo di Romagna Elena Zannoni. Also present were lawyer Giovanni Baracca (grandson of the Ace of Aces), representatives of veterans' and military associations, civil and military authorities, including the Air Force Commander, Air Force General Alberto Biavati, The Commander of the 51st Fighter Wing and a delegation from the 4th Wing, the X Flight Group, and the 91st Squadron of the 36th Wing.
The ceremony, which began with the flag-raising, was crowned by a flypast of historic aircraft. The “Jonathan Collection” Foundation” which unfurled the Tricolour across the sky. Following this, wreaths of laurel were laid at the monument that stands precisely where, on 19 June 1918, the Major Pilot Francesco Baracca, Gold Medal for Military Valour, whilst engaged in one of the missions of what is remembered as the “Battle of the Solstice”.
Among the speeches by the authorities who took part in the commemoration was that of Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Squadron General Luca Goretti, which in his speech he stressed:“When remembering Francesco Baracca, we remember an ace, but we must above all focus on the figure of the man himself. A man like all of us, made of emotions and feelings, who with great strength knew how to place love for his homeland and service above his family, his loved ones, and the things he held most dear, in order to gift us the freedom we enjoy today. Let us not forget all those who, like him, sacrificed their lives. General Goretti then concluded: “Our mandate is to pass on to young people those values that have determined the choices of those who risked their lives in service of the country. We are ready and convinced that we will do our duty and our job on any occasion, even at the cost of the greatest sacrifice.
