The event took place in Naples in Piazza del Plebiscito, alongside the oath-taking and baptism ceremony of the “Pegaso V” course of the Pozzuoli Academy. The ceremony, presided over by the President of the Senate Pietro Grasso, was attended by the Minister of Defence Giampaolo Di Paola, the Chief of the Defence Staff, Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli, and the heads of the Armed Forces. Following military honours by the formation, the President of the Senate presented the War Flag of the Italian Air Force with the Gold Medal for Civil Valour, for the contribution offered in the rescue operations for the populations affected by the earthquake in Abruzzo in 2009, with the following citation:“
following the disastrous earthquake that devastated the Abruzzo region, the Italian Air Force provided, from the very first hours, a valuable contribution to the rescue of the populations struck by the earthquake. The activity was aimed at creating a fully fledged airport facility for the faster inflow of personnel and provisions and at carrying out photographic surveys of the affected areas, helping to support the Civil Protection system in saving human lives and assisting the population“This was followed by the oath of allegiance to the Republic by the 81 officer cadets of the ’Pegaso V“ course, the Air Force Academy's youngest intake, which also received its banner on the occasion. The ceremony also provided the opportunity to present the following awards: the Silver Medal for Aeronautical Valour to Captain Roberto Grasso, the Silver Medal for Aeronautical Valour to First Warrant Officer Carlo Giuseppe Marra, the Bronze Medal for Aeronautical Valour to Colonel Francesco Maria Frare, and the Bronze Medal for Aeronautical Valour to Senior Warrant Officer Raffaele Pascali.
The Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Squadron General Pasquale Preziosa, stated in his speech: “
This Swearing-in ceremony takes place, as mentioned, on the 90th birthday of our Armed Forces; another fine page in our history written with the successes achieved both at home and abroad, thanks to the commitment and spirit of sacrifice of every single member of the Armed Forces. General Preziosa then went on to emphasise that
Passion, competence and ethics are the three pillars around which aviators, airmen and civilian personnel have built the 90 years of our history. These are the values by which the men and women in uniform are regularly inspired and in which they firmly believe. The same values that ideally bind us, as a united team, around our two marine riflemen, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who, by obeying without reservation the order to return to India, have demonstrated to the world the honesty, courage, dedication, attachment and deep belief that distinguish the service personnel of the Italian Armed Forces.“.
The Chief of Defence, Admiral Luigi Binelli Mantelli, in turn recalled that anniversaries such as today's prompt us to reflect on our past, rich in glorious pages, extraordinary men and extraordinary forerunners and, above all, great benchmark values. On that 28th of March 1923, 90 years ago, all the young and fervent Italian aviation experiences were brought together in a system and led to the establishment of an autonomous Armed Force, entirely dedicated to the “third dimension”.
The Minister of Defence, Giampaolo Di Paola, addressed the students of the Aeronautic Academy directly, saying:
“Memento audere semper: remember always to dare, said D’Annunzio. The Italian Air Force, this eternal maiden, for 90 years has shown Italy and Italians every day through its daring flight, the daring flight of the Frecce Tricolori, the path of responsible daring, innovation, modernity and change“During its solemn moments, the venue of the event was flown over by the aircraft of the National Aerobatic Team, which trailed the Tricolour of the Italian flag over the city of Naples to seal the value of the capabilities and excellence expressed by the Italian Air Force in the service of the country, for the defence and security of the community. In the afternoon, in Rome, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, Air Squad General Pasquale Preziosa, paid homage to the Shrine of the Unknown Soldier by laying a laurel wreath.
Speech by Major General Umberto Baldi, Commander of the Pozzuoli Academy Speech by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force Speech by the Chief of the Defence Staff Speech by the Minister of Defence Video clip produced by the Audiovisual Production Centre Campania Tgr of 28/03/2013 at 14:00
