Once upon a time the Military Academy of Modena, and its illustrious history of secular excellence that still continues and will persist with its history in the timeless beauty of the Ducal Palace. The new book by Francesco Franchini "Once upon a time there was the Ducal Palace of Modena - Once upon a time" presented this morning at the Central Military Library of the Army General Staff in Rome.
In the presence of the Minister of Defense sen. Roberta Pinotti, of the senator Stefano Vaccari, and of the Chief of Staff of the Army, the general of corps Danilo Errico, the author has illustrated, with a heartfelt enthusiasm, the course of his work: that through magnificent photographs taken with the help of drones and period documents, it intends to recount the history and atmosphere of the oldest Military Academy in Europe.
Through the immortal quotations of the writer Edmondo de Amicis, who was a cadet in the 1962, the memory of the praise of the Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the presence of many trained and intervened officers for the occasion; it has been told what General Errico has kept to remember how place of formation of officers aware of their duties and responsibilities, firm in their convictions and supported by a granitic value base, which for more than four centuries has forged the excellence of the future ruling class.
A moment of emotion was when General Errico recalled Major Giuseppe La Rosa, a gold medal for military valor, who fell in Afghanistan in the 2013 and a student of the Academy. Added to this was a solemn commendation addressed to all military personnel, men and women who sacrificed their lives on mission.
The Defense Minister, Senator Roberta Pinotti, expressed her appreciation for the initiative by recalling some of the historical figures mentioned in the book, especially the beauty of the image that portrays some girls photographing themselves in front of the monument to Ciro Menotti, seizing an opportunity to remember that today we are experiencing an important anniversary regarding the entry of women into the Armed Forces.
The dott. Franchini underlined how the text, through the history of the Palazzo Ducale, aims at contributing to broaden the knowledge of a subject as fascinating as little known to the general public. An opportunity to understand and deepen the singular union of social, cultural and military life that the Ducal Palace of Modena witnesses.
The presentation concluded with the reading of a short passage taken from "Il Comandante che ci", the last chapter of the book, which projects the reader's imaginary into the noble future of excellence that the Military Academy of Modena will be able to continue to honor through his cadets.
