"Today is the moment of memory and pain, today we are here to tell our fallen that we have not forgotten them, to say that their sacrifice was not in vain, but above all to say that we have not forgotten why they paid a so high price".
Words spoken by the Minister of Defense, Elisabetta Trenta, at the end of the mass in suffrage of the fallen soldiers and civilians in the international missions for peace, celebrated by the Military Ordinary for Italy, Msgr. Santo Marcianò in the Basilica of S. Maria in Ara Coeli. A Basilica full of family members, citizens, civil and military authorities, all gathered around the memory of the Fallen. To accompany the mass, during which the message of the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, was read by a joint choir.
Previously the minister, accompanied by the Chief of Defense Staff, General Enzo Vecciarelli and the leaders of the Armed Forces, had placed a laurel wreath at the Altar of the Fatherland and a wreath at the Schuster Park War Memorial.
A moment of meditation, but also an opportunity to greet the many relatives of the Fallen on this "day of remembrance" established by Parliament with Law 162 of 2009 to coincide with the anniversary of the tragic attack in Nassiriyah in which 15 years ago they also lost their lives. 19 Italians: 12 carabinieri, 5 army soldiers, a director and a head of cooperation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Fallen whose memory, as the head of the Dicastery said "it belongs not only to the Armed Forces, nor to the Institutions, nor to a political party, but it is a precious and indivisible asset of the whole community".
"It is also important to underline, on this day, that alongside and together with the fallen soldiers we also remember numerous other Italians who contributed to building peace and who supported the efforts of our missions as and in the role of operators of international organizations, volunteers , workers of private agencies, representatives of the information world. There are no and there should never be Serie A and Serie B victims "added Minister Trenta who extended his thanks also" to the many, injured during the missions, who bear the indelible marks of those moments on them".
"Today there is no frontier that can stem the modern and subtle forms of terrorism, which in addition to bringing grief and violence in many parts of the world, try to undermine our fundamental need for security, to disrupt our daily lives, to insinuate doubts and uncertainties about our future”Explained the minister.
For this reason Italy, with more than 6.000 military men and women, engaged in 38 missions in 24 countries, is an active part of the international community's commitment to support security and stability in the most tormented areas of the world.
