On November 4, "we celebrate National Unity Day and Armed Forces Day, with our thoughts turned to those who served Italy to make it united, free and democratic", said President Sergio Mattarella yesterday, greeting a group of students of military training institutes.
After laying a wreath of flowers at the Altare della Patria in Rome at 9am, the head of state will fly to Cagliari to take part in the great ceremony that will take place at the port.
It starts at 11.30, scheduled for speeches by the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, and by Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. However, Mattarella is not expected to speak.
Last year he explained that « November 4th reminds us, with renewed emotion, of the many lives lost during the bitter fighting of the First World War, a conflict that tore apart and devastated the whole of Europe. It was a great test for the many who, coming from every corner of the country, united under the Tricolore, with courage and heroism brought the Risorgimento dream to fruition, reuniting Trento and Trieste with the nation."
The president will hand over the decorations to five flags, three of the Army, one of the Air Force and one of the Carabinieri, followed by the parade of around 500 soldiers, almost all Sardinian, many from the Sassari Brigade. At this point there will be the playing of the national anthem, the display of the Frecce tricolori and the launch of six paratroopers, one for each department , while the sixth will carry a large Italian flag. In closing, 21 blank shots from the Alpino ship, a missile frigate of the Navy. In the grandstand there will be the president of the Region Christian Solinas and several councilors, the mayor of Cagliari Paolo Truzzu (with the council and councilors) and eighty other first citizens arriving from all over the island.
(cr. co.)
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