Saturday 13 July was a day full of emotions and memories for a group of around 40 former members of Nave's first crew Libeccio, who after more than four decades found themselves again on board the frigate, moored in the naval base of La Spezia. Coming from every corner of Italy and accompanied by their families, the participants, in sharing their memories, gave everyone present moments of great emotion.
Seeing old friends and colleagues again was like going back in time, to those intense and unforgettable days spent on board. Every corner of the ship, every room, every deck awakened in them a memory, an anecdote, a moment lived together.
The meeting took on an even deeper meaning considering that, from February 29, 2024, Nave Libeccio was placed in reserve for subsequent disarmament, effectively concluding its operational life, a condition which ideally marked the conclusion of a relay lasting over 40 years, with the passing of the baton between the first and last crew of the unit, creating a strong and symbolic link between past and present.
A particularly touching moment that united all those present was the minute of silence in memory of those who passed away; “They are no longer among us, but they still live in the hearts and memories of their traveling companions”, these are the words of the commander of the unit in the presence of the "oldest" among the guests, the chief inspector admiral (aus.) Claudio Morellato, first head of the electrical service of the ship Libeccio and current president of the La Spezia section of the Italian Naval League.
The event represented the symbolic celebration of a bond that goes beyond time and space, a tribute to the past in connection with the present, in the name of those founding values of union, respect, solidarity and esprit de corps on which builds a crew, values on which the entire Armed Force is based.
In its 42 year history, Nave Libeccio it touched over 100 ports spread across 4 continents and sailed the seas of both hemispheres far and wide, totaling almost 68.000 hours of motion and approximately 840.000 miles travelled, equal to 4 times the distance between the Earth and the Moon or 40 times the circumnavigation of the Earth. These successes were only possible thanks to the tireless and passionate work of the over 3.000 men and women who made up the crews over the years and allowed the unit to leave an indelible mark in the history of the Navy and of Italy.
