The ceremony took place on Thursday 29 September, in the Piazza d'Armi of the Swabian Castle of Brindisi, in the presence of the commander in chief of the naval squad, squad admiral Donato Marzano, and the commander of the amphibious force, division admiral Aurelio De Carolis, the ceremony took place of alternation in command of the San Marco marine brigade between Rear Admiral Rosario Walter Guerrisi (transferor) and Rear Admiral Cesare Bruno Petragnani (successor).
Admiral Guerrisi relinquished his post after almost two years of command, during which the men and women of the marine brigade Saint Mark they have participated in numerous and diversified national and international activities, among which the operation must certainly be mentioned Safe Sea, the anti-piracy mission Atalanta, the operation Sabina in aid of the populations of central Italy hit by the earthquake and Eunavformed Operation Sophia.
The change in command of the brigade represented for Admiral Guerrisi a further significant moment of life lived at the service of the country; with the ceremony, he leaves the Navy after 38 years of honorable service, of which twenty spent in the amphibious component, among the Leoni of the Saint Mark. A legacy that today passes to rear-admiral Petragnani, coming from the office Special Forces and Underwater Departments of the General Staff Marina where he was deputy office manager.
To witness the solemnity of the ceremony and the importance of the amphibious force within the naval team, the words of Admiral Marzano who, in expressing appreciation for the work and courage of the men and women of the brigade, wanted to address them a significant interpretation by Paolo Borsellino on courage: "It is normal that fear exists in every man, the important thing is that it is accompanied by courage. We must not be overwhelmed by fear, otherwise it becomes an obstacle that prevents us from moving forward". A reminder addressed to Leoni of the Saint Mark that for many years now they often find themselves operating in difficult environments, where courage is the first quality they have always shown.
The formal handover, sealed by the formula of recognition between captains, was followed by the traditional change of insignia accompanied by the whistles of the helmsmen of the landing craft group.
