In the hall of the Russian Science and Culture Center in Piazza Cairoli in Rome, last night, a fly was not flying. The emotion was palpable, because what ended with the delivery of the wings and the flight certificate to the new paratroopers 161o course, organized by the Rome section of the Anpdi (National Association of Italian Paratroopers), it was not just a launching qualification. This course, for the first time in the history of the Rome Anpdi, was dedicated to a Russian paratrooper, a special man, a hero, Alexandr Prochorenko, who sacrificed himself against the ISIS terrorists in Palmyra, as recalled the military attaché Sergey Chuhrov. Also the motto chosen for the 161o course, "Beyond us, nobody", is that of the Russian parishes.
"First of all I would like to thank the director of the cultural center Oleg Osipov and the colonel Dmitri Stolyarov, military officer for the paratroopers' specialty, with whom we have, step by step, built this path", The president of the Rome ANPDI, Adriano Tocchi, made his debut. "Today ends this beautiful tale that began almost a year ago. Usually, when qualifications and patents are handed over, it is the conclusion of something. I would like to emphasize that, as far as we are concerned, this is not the case. A recent commander of the Folgore brigade said that the paratrooper is not seen when he launches from the plane, but when he is on the ground. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the control, at least in the initial phase, of one's fear. The paratrooper then lands and lives in everyday life. What you guys have learned in our gym, from your instructors, is not only the behavior in flight, the exit from the plane, the landing, but also a philosophy of life that is that of the skydiver. Paratrooper who, if he is such, is not Italian: he is Russian, Italian, Pakistani, German. The way of thinking, of living, the ethical references of our day are the same for all paratroopers. I believe that you have been particularly lucky in your course, because what I have just said can be perfectly summed up in the figure of Alexandr Prochorenko. What he did, in war, is really what each of us, like me who dedicated my life to training paratroopers, first in the then regiment and then in civilian life, is what each of us expects and hopes to to be able to have from a paratrooper, that is an ethical line - I hope you will remember Prokorenko's words - the values of the family, of the homeland, of one's uniform, are superior to the value of oneself. I believe that this is truly the sublimation of the way of being para. Pupils from other courses will bring with them the words of the instructors and what they have learned. You are lucky enough to carry in your hearts and in your heads the living and lived memory of a true paratrooper ... I close the speech not without recalling our tradition ... Parà ... FOLGORE !!!".
"I am with you again after the conclusion of this course", Added technical director Mimmo Aloi. "This is a course that was initially opposed by high personalities of our nation and our army. But we were very happy to do so, because our intent was to honor a brother who fell in the fight against terrorism, as a military man and a paratrooper. We were also happy with the outcome of the course, the exquisitely technical part and the launches. I am here and I represent the instructors, the merit is them as well as the top of the section for having formed this course. And we are particularly happy because our hero, by falling, has set aside his own interests for the highest good, which is what we must do.".
The Russian officers gave the boys the insignia of the Russian paratroopers and a record of the songs of the same paràs, "to keep our signs in your heart. You have achieved a purpose. Now, after receiving the wings, you are closer to heaven, you must have courage for new successes and new heights. I hope this is an important event not only because Italy has new paratroopers, but also because this is a symbolic ceremony. I agree with President Tocchi, there are no paratroopers of a nation, all the paratroopers around the world have a courageous soul, all are ready for heroic deeds for their homeland, in the fight against evil. I think that the name of our Russian officer, Alexandr Prochorenko, will accompany you throughout your life, maybe it will make you think if you too would do the same in the name of your homeland", He called for the military attaché.
The end of the ceremony gave an added value in terms of emotion, reflection, sharing: a video dedicated to all Russian, Italian and world paratroopers. Images of the war in Afghanistan from the Soviet period to today, "where many young boys lost their lives in the name of their country. We hope this video will help us to commemorate these brave men who have sacrificed their lives in the name of peace".
A short video, on the notes of a Russian parà song, where the images of the land of Afghanistan and the soldiers flow, in the midst of houses gutted by bombs, boys in action or at rest. The photos take us to the edge of a collective and shared memory, where we realize that it is true, those soldiers from different countries and languages are brothers, because they share a sense of homeland, that homeland that they take with them wherever they go. The photos of the Russian parakeets and those of the Italians, their coffins wrapped in the Russian flag and our tricolor, perhaps with a child caressing his father in the wooden box. And long still images on their faces, on those black or sky-blue eyes. We remember having already seen those faces of our paràs: a passport photo passed on television together with the body coming down from the C130 and a proud mother wearing the amaranth beret of her fallen son.
That video is a tribute, a sign of true and profound friendship that moves and honors us. And the following reflection makes us indignant, because these heroes, dead in a foreign land not to allow terrorists to put bombs inside our house, our country should remember them, pay homage, maybe talk about it in schools, instead of ignoring them after a nice funeral pumping great and contrite faces in front of the cameras.
Once it was a cold war, for decades they told us that the good ones were just us. On the other hand, those who know them have always known how much heart they have, how passionate they are, how much they love their country the Russians. This twinning in the name and in honor of Alexandr Prochorenko, the joy they have had in welcoming the new Italian paratroopers, is proof that true friendship goes beyond times, fashions, languages and nations, it is the true glue that allows you to be brothers without having the same blood, even more if you are a paratrooper. If then it is love of shared homeland it is also an ethical and therefore aesthetic act.
