Last 20 September on the occasion of the 148th anniversary of the Breccia di Porta Pia, the service of the Honor Guard at the Quirinale Palace featured the "feathered infantrymen" of the 1 ° Bersaglieri regiment of Cosenza and the 8 ° Bersaglieri Regiment Caserta, historical departments under the brigade bersaglieri "Garibaldi" commanded by Brigadier General Diodato Abagnara and provided its contribution to the service also to the Altare della Patria.
From 20 to 23 last September, the 1 ° and 8 ° Bersaglieri regiment, employees of the brigade, took turns on guard duty in the prestigious Italian state headquarters, culminating in the afternoon of Sunday 23 with the changing of the guard in front at the Quirinale. The rotation ceremony began with the deployment of the 8 Regiment Band and the Army Band in the presence of the War Flags of the regiments concerned and of the companies that served. In the square, the many citizens who came to watch the evocative ceremony, were able to hear, at the end, the Fanfara dell'8 ° regiment in concert. The Guard of Honor is carried out daily by rotation from different departments and bodies of the Armed Forces, a service particularly significant for the importance of the protected places, for the history behind it and for the load of all those feelings of Patria and spirit of belonging that distinguish the military being.
The opportunity to provide the Guardia d'Onore service by the Bersaglieri after 19 years since the last loan, is linked to the Breccia di Porta Pia recurrence, in fact the 20 1870 ran in September when, on the orders of General Cadorna, the Bersaglieri they entered the Eternal City through a wide breach about 30 meters, open to cannonades along the Aurelian walls. A few days later, a popular plebiscite sanctioned the annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy and the following year, in February, the Eternal City was proclaimed capital of Italy.
The Bersaglieri, specialty of the Infantry, born the 18 June 1836 for royal viglietto of King Carlo Alberto of Savoia, on the proposal of the then Captain of the Guards Alessandro Ferrero della Marmora. Born as troops chosen by then Armata Sarda, then Italian Army, and expression of mobility and shooting ability, the Bersaglieri are a specialty rich in traditions. Protagonists of the history of Italy, have participated in all the operations that the Italian Army is involved both on the national territory and abroad, always loved and appreciated by the Italians for their contribution to support the population.
