In La Spezia, the celebration of Italian Navy which falls every year on the anniversary of the Enterprise of Premuda in 1918. And that is when Ensign Rizzo's Mas sank the Austrian battleship Santo Stefano. For the important anniversary, some of the largest units are deployed in the sea in front of La Spezia: the helicopter carrier Garibaldi, the frigates Alpino and Marceglia, the patrol vessel Thaon di Revel, the submarine Scirè. And theAmerigo Vespucci, the training ship most famous in the world.
Feast of the Navy
In his message, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella he recalled Italy's “natural projection onto the sea and its responsibility for the safety of Mediterranean enlarged". Eleven Navy ships currently engaged outside the 'home sea', a record deployment that is linked to international instabilities. "A commitment that ranges from the Baltic to the Arabian Gulf, from the Gulf of Guinea to North America", underlined the Chief of Staff, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone.
“To keep our safety there are those who work every day without most of us realizing it. It is you who guarantee the means of communication, trade and energy, the life of the refugees that some criminals put on the boats”. Thus the defense minister Guido Crosetto to the departments lined up along the Morin promenade in La Spezia. Mayor Pierluigi Peracchini recalled that "La Spezia is a seafaring city whose deep bond with the history of the Italian Navy is something indissoluble since the times when this city became the seat of the then royal military arsenal, the first of the Kingdom of Italy".
Giorgia Meloni's greeting message
“The government expresses its gratitude to the men and women of the Navy who are at the service of the country and carry out, with professionalism and generosity, crucial functions for the nation. And they ensure the security and defense of the Mediterranean, from the Balearic Islands to the Turkish Straits. There Marina deals with strategic activities and responds to challenges that the current international context and the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine make increasingly demanding. Being a sailor requires great sacrifice. It often means being engaged at sea for a long time, even for months. Holidays are sometimes spent away from one's loved ones and prompt departure is required, even at short notice.
Sometimes it's easier, sometimes harder, but that of the men and women of the Navy is a choice of love. The credibility, authority and reliability of Italy in the world also walk on the legs of our sailors and we are proud of this. In the Tricolor hoisted on our ships are enclosed the dedication and courage of those who wear the uniform of the Navy today, as well as that of those who also served their country in arms in the past. In their memory my moved thoughts go to the fallen at sea of all ages.
Excellences of Italy
The thoughts of the government also go to the loved ones and families of our soldiers, without whom the men and women of the Navy could not carry on their mission. On this day of celebration for the Navy, the government wishes to send a special wish to the students who have finished the first class of theLivorno Naval Academyoe to the crew of the glorious training ship Amerigo Vespucci, which is preparing to sail around the world and bring our Tricolor on five continents, making an extraordinary contribution to promoting the values, culture and excellence of Italy”.
(Images from the Navy Facebook page)
