Two intense days of celebrations were held in L'Aquila for the celebrations of the centenary of the War Flag of the 9th Alpine regiment. The delivery of the War Flag in the hands of the 1st commander of the 9th Alpine regiment, Colonel Remigio Perretti, took place on 1 July 1921 during a solemn ceremony held at the "Vittoria" Barracks in Gorizia, sealing the birth of the department, made up of the Vicenza, Bassano, Feltre and Cidivale battalions.
The celebrations of these days, carried out in full compliance with the current rules necessary to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 contagion, saw the 9th Alpine regiment celebrate its glorious traditions and its history alongside the citizens of L'Aquila, the highest Authorities local and regional policies, the Commander of the Alpine Troops Gen. CA Claudio Berto and the Undersecretary of Defense Giorgio Mulè.
The celebration began with the deposition of a crown at the war memorial in the "Pasquali" barracks and followed by a solemn mass at the Basilica of San Bernardino da Siena, celebrated by the Metropolitan Archbishop of L'Aquila Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi.
The celebration then continued with a conference entitled “ANA Abruzzi section - 9th Alpine regiment - 100 years together”. During the speeches, the commander of the Alpine troops and the commander of the 9th Alpine regiment Colonel Gianmarco Laurencig, together with the other speakers, underlined the particular resilience of the Alpine troops throughout history, both during armed conflicts and in operations to support the population in case of disaster.
A static exhibition in Piazza del Duomo, enlivened by the presence of the fanfare of the alpine brigade "Taurinense", wanted to present to all the citizens of L'Aquila the skills that can be expressed by the department. The defendants were able to learn about the operational reality of the L'Aquila battalion, (Army unit usable in broad-spectrum scenarios) and that of the Vicenza battalion, (multifunctional and unique unit of its kind with which the Armed Force is capable, where the intervention is required by the civil authorities, to always be ready to respond with dedicated and specialized structures to possible emergencies in the area).
During the military celebrations, the CRI Gold Medal of Merit was awarded in the presence of the vice president of the Italian Red Cross, Avv. Rosario Maria Gianluca Valastro who, with the symbolic act, wanted to testify the service rendered by the 9th Alpine regiment for the rescue activity of the population. In the interventions of the high respondent authorities, both that of the president of the National Alpine Association ing. Sebastiano Favero, and that of the commander of the Alpine troops gen. ca Claudio Berto, a strong reference to the ideals of the homeland, enclosed in the spirit of service to the Nation and testimony of the values of the Alpine troops of the Army.
