On the morning of 16 October the sky above Pisa is hostile, clouds full of water, the wind whipping, cold.
Despite the climatic obstacles, there are several hundred Amaranth Basques who have gathered at the "Gamerra" barracks, the historic headquarters of the Italian Army Parachuting School.
The celebration of the 73 anniversary of the battle of El Alamein is the heart that this year is pumping the values of the Brigade to its members.
Nothing stopped the "Lions" of the thunderbolt in Africa and nothing after decades will stop their worthy successors in their homeland.
The memory of the fallen of El Alamein and of all those who have paid for their commitment in this glorious specialty with their lives is a moment of rapprochement for all Italian paratroopers.
The great gathering comes to life from every part of the peninsula and many are present with more than one generation following. Fathers and children (and in some cases daughters) linked by the indissoluble thrill of being military, in the same body, a few decades later.
The ideal embrace that surrounds the families of the fallen can feel it even those who have never dressed a uniform, the smile of their fellow soldiers who find themselves year after year, grade after grade mixes the memory with joy.
The past of the Folgore is an integral part of the DNA of today's Lightning.
Anyone who has not returned from the 73 Africa campaign years ago transmits to these young new paratroopers everything they need: the sense of sacrifice, dedication and courage.
The air imbued with amaranth allows the new generation to discover the spirit of body that they have just found and to those who instead seem to have always found themselves once again together.
In the city of El Alamein on the night of the 23 October 1942 British troops began shooting on the first Italian-German line, triggering hell.
The area was lit up and the ground shook under the blows of the artillery, destruction and death rained, causing fear.
The young Italian paratroopers, along with numerous other Axis divisions, were ready for the battle that would soon be raged around them.
The Axis artillery responded in a totally ineffective way to the fire, ammunition was scarce and people still lived in the hope of not having to face a battle on their own skin.
After a quarter of an hour from the beginning of the artillery thunders the men of the English infantry came out of their holes, dug in the sand, and advanced towards the point where the blows were going to break.
At 21: around 00, under the sky clouded by stale fumes coming out of the guns, the second battle of El Alamein began. The British had just made contact with the enemy.
In the night between the 23 and the 24 October south of the historic Egyptian city the artillery of the thunderbolt they sold their position dearly, giving a very strong setback to the English wagon and infantry divisions.
Only at the first light of dawn the outposts of the thunderbolt they were annihilated but the men of the coalition were thus stuck in the middle of the German minefields the so-called "Devil's fields".
The long endurance of the thunderbolt to the enemy advance.
Even today, at a distance of 73 years, we do not know what led those young soldiers to resist; courage, pride or fear we cannot know.
What we do know is that whatever the spark was that didn't bring down the Lions of Lightning before the last day of battle, today we would need it to shine more alive than ever.
Because every day these young and less young people face a complex life made up of sacrifices and often even sacrifices.
All to wear that beret and continue to perpetuate over time the values that made El Alamein great the name of the Italian paratroopers.
After so many years, the Folgore tightens around its values that make it loved and glorified in every part of the world.
The men from the Basque Amaranth are today engaged in Iraq; Somalia; Lebanon just to name a few.
They are engaged in operations Safe Roads, where they receive a very high number of successes and also enjoy the applause of the population protected by their own Leoni.
We ask General Iannucci - commander of the paratroopers brigade - to send a message to those who on this day so important to them cannot be present at home because they are employed in missions.
"To the paratroopers employed abroad, first of all, I would like to say best wishes, because their task is delicate and not easy. In the past few days I have written through the most popular channels in the media to young people abroad to express my closeness and support to them. for their work ".
The words of General Primicerj, commander of the terrestrial operational forces, are touching.
"For the boys employed abroad and today in particular for the paratroopers, I would like to remind you of an important aspect. While wearing a uniform you are not just soldiers, you must remember that you are also and above all Italian citizens, parents and men. Because sensitivity is I've hardly ever seen the humanity that our colleagues show abroad on a daily basis in my career. This makes us better soldiers! "
Today in Pisa, the Folgore has highlighted with commendable sobriety and great acceptance, what it means to be paratroopers.
Yesterday's fallen are an integral part of the chromosomes of the thunderbolt modern, they cease to be history and become legend in the heart of those who still proudly wear their beret.
(Click here to see all the images)
