The 10 June 1918 the commander Luigi Rizzo and the ensign Giuseppe Aonzo, in command of the "MAS 15" and "MAS 21" attacked an Austrian naval formation sinking the battleship "Santo Stefano".
One of the most significant and daring actions carried out on the sea during the 1 World War to which the Navy Day was dedicated, the 13 March 1939 was established.
Recurrence celebrated this morning in Palazzo Marina, in the presence of the Minister of Defense Roberta Pinotti who in his speech has repeatedly stressed the important role played by the Italian navy in the Mediterranean, thanks also to the central, and therefore highly strategic, geographical position of our country .
The minister thanked the sailors of Italy for the daily contribution offered in the Mare Nostrum mission, a device that combines humanitarian value with the fight against crime: "You cannot, we cannot be left alone - added the minister - Europe and the main international organizations must help us support the weight and effort of this extraordinary commitment ".
Yesterday, a spokesman for the UN said that Italy can not be left alone. An international answer is needed.
At the end of the ceremony the video conference link from New Delhi with the two navy riflemen, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone.
Recalling that the government and the Dicastery are following all the possible paths for a correct conclusion of the story, Minister Pinotti highlighted the importance of the support obtained in this regard by Europe and NATO. "Our marines - he said - were on an anti-piracy mission, covered by functional immunity and this certifies the international level in which the story must be framed".
During the ceremony, the Minister Pinotti handed over the honors - two Silver Medals to the Valor of Marina and three Bronze Medals to the Valor of Marina - to soldiers who have distinguished themselves in carrying out their activities.
Source: Military Navy
