In Brindisi commemorated The "Day of Memory of the Sailors disappeared in the Sea"

(To Marina Militare)
09/09/18

This morning in Brindisi, the Navy celebrated the "Day of the Memory of Sailors Disappeared in the Sea" in perennial memory of the sacrifice of the sailors, soldiers and civilians, died and buried at sea.

The commemoration, now at its 75th anniversary and considered a civil solemnity, took place at the National Monument to the "Italian Sailor", located inside the port and inaugurated on November 4, 1933 on the initiative of the Italian Naval League on the occasion of the conferral of the decoration of the War Cross to the Apulian city, to commemorate the approximately 6.000 sailors who died during the Great War.

Brindisi was in fact chosen for the important role of naval base of the Lower Adriatic of the Royal Navy during the First World Conflict. This key figure in the maritime chessboard is in fact confirmed by the motto that stands on the monument itself, reminding the daring of the Italian sailors in history, confers further prestige to the city "Glory to the sailors of the new Italy who boldly faced death because the homeland resurrected assert again winner on the seas ".

The date of 9 September has precise historical references for the Navy. In fact, 75 years ago, over 1700 sailors perished in two different war actions following the sinking of the battleship Romaof destroyers Vivaldi e From Noli the 9 September 1943 took place off the island of the Asinara, the day after the armistice, by German bombers. An indelible date for the immense loss of human lives, which are still remembered every year, with unchanged respect and honor.

The ceremony was presided over by the Undersecretary for Infrastructure and Transport, the Honorable Edoardo Rixi, and by the Navy Chief of Staff, Team Admiral Valter Girardelli, who paid tribute to all the sailors, military and civilians, who died in wartime or peace, who sacrificed their lives to safeguard the collective interest in the service of the homeland.

Moments of "deep respect and grateful gratitude to all those who sacrificed their most precious asset, life, in the fulfillment of their duty on the sea" - as underlined by Admiral Girardelli, who specified in his speech - "Toward them we keep a debt of gratitude that can never be extinguished and today they must be fraternally crying". A memory in the sign of tradition, which must be renewed in terms of "historical memory, essential for a country like Italy, rich in maritime traditions but also of small and great moments of glory and sacrifice to remember especially to young people, who are our future".

And after having addressed a thought to the dramatic facts related to the sinking of the battleship Romaof destroyers From Noli e Vivaldi and to the heroic protagonists, among whom the admiral Carlo Bergamini - commander in chief of the Naval Battle Forces - the chief of the Naval Staff has felt it necessary to remember the contribution provided by Brindisi during the First World Conflict "for the positive resolution of the war events, especially for those fought on the seas"And for the maritimeity that has always distinguished the city itself.

A strategic maritimeity extended to the entire nation, represented by the number of military and civilian sailors who today, like every day, in all the seas of the world and in all the oceans, carry out their activities with seriousness and professionalism. A sea that must be safeguarded and protected as a source of social and economic well-being as well as a source of interchange with the rest of the world.

"Because of its position and the role it aspires to play in the international community, Italy promotes a maritime strategy focused on areas of national strategic importance and value, which pursues the objectives of maritime policy, and works in support of foreign policy, economic and defense policy of the country, protecting and preserving national objectives ".

In his speech, Mr Rixi highlighted how much it was "very high the contribution paid by the mariners of our Mercantile Marina during the two World Conflicts", With over 2700 sailors fallen in both wars.      

The ceremony was also attended by the commander in chief of the naval team, the naval logistics commander and the general commander of the Corps of Harbor - Coast Guard.