The Eucharistic celebration, presided over by the ordinary military archbishop for Italy, HE Monsignor Santo Marcianò, was attended by the chief of staff of the air force, general of the air squad Pasquale Preziosa, the heads of the air force staff, the foreign military personnel accredited for the air force, a representation of the personnel of the armed force and training institutes as well as the Nobile and De Pinedo aeronautical technical institutes.
During the homily, Msgr. Marcianò underlined how much the air force soldiers must be prophets of peace. "Of which Word, of what truth can and must you be prophets? - he continued -" I believe that one answer sums them all: prophets of peace ".
During his speech, Msgr. Marcianò then wanted to underline how dedication is a key value of the Air Force personnel, willing to sacrifice their lives to serve their mission. "Our thoughts go to the colleagues and friends of the Ghedi Air Base", added Marcianò, "an example of those who have been able to disappear behind the greatness of the mission they were carrying out or preparing to perform".
At the end of the celebration, General Preziosa, during his speech, stated how "devotion to the Madonnina is universal, it goes beyond the Catholic component, it is a moment of profound reflection, in which one feels the need to believe in something transcendent ".
"This episode - continued the chief of staff - is all the more acute when you risk your life as the women and men of this armed force do. For us, therefore, Our Lady of Loreto is a second mother, and mothers always give the greatest thought and the most sincere wishes ".
The head of SMA then concluded his speech by quoting the words of the sergeant pilot Angelo Zanaria to his mother: "If something should happen to me don't cry too much, we aviators when we die we are already in heaven, we do not notice anything, we remain forever in company of the Mother of all time. "
After the celebration at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, General Preziosa presided at Palazzo Aeronautica the unveiling ceremony of the inscription of the names of the four officers who fell in the skies of the Marches on August 19 at the Lapidary of the Three Arches. The relatives of the fallen as well as the prefect of Ascoli Piceno and the deputy mayor of Venarotta took part in the ceremony.
Source: General Office for Communication - Public Information Office - chap. Stefano Testa, ten. Simone Antonetti
