Today 28 October, at the "Gamerra" Barracks in Pisa, in the presence of the Commander of the Northern Operational Forces General of the Army Corps Bruno Stano, of the Commander of the General Friuli Division of the Carlo Lamanna Division and of the Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade Folgore General of the Brigade Roberto Vannacci, the Commemoration of the 74th Anniversary of the Battle of El Alamein took place.
"Luck was lacking, not valor ..." are the words that greet visitors to the El Alamein Shrine, in Northern Egypt, where one of the most violent and heroic battles of the Second World War took place. Fought between 23 October and 3 November 1942, it saw the paratroopers of the "Folgore" as protagonists who, surrounded, with little ammunition and insufficient armament, exhausted by the heat and deprivation (only 304 of the approximately 5.000 parachutes sent to North Africa survived) gave an extraordinary proof of valor. Subjected for days to very harsh, almost uninterrupted bombings, the Italian military repelled over and over again the attacks of numerically superior and better armed forces, giving a proof of value that was also recognized by the enemy of the time and still survives in our memories.
The Celebration recalls the "Lions" of the "Folgore" and testifies the qualities of the Italian paratrooper: honor, sacrifice, loyalty, dedication, generosity: values that have made our country great in the world. 
The "Folgore" of now is a Great Elementary Unit of the Italian Army, composed of trained and motivated personnel, able to operate in every possible scenario. In recent years, the paratroopers have participated in all the operations outside the area that have seen the Italian Army protagonist. But the "Folgore" has been repeatedly called to work also to rescue the civil population affected by natural disasters and provides an important contribution to the security of the country, with the operation "Safe Roads".
After more than half a century, as a tangible sign that the principles, traditions and emotions of those "Lions" have kept intact their meaning, many young people still aspire to wear the Amaranth Basque.
During the ceremony took place the traditional launch of paratroopers in the square of the barracks, carried out with the technique of free fall. After the Celebration it was possible to visit the Aviotruppe Museum, some vehicles and materials used by the departments of the paratroopers Brigade and the exhibition stands of the companies, traditionally close to the "Folgore", which contributed to making today's day possible.
(photo: Italian army)
