After the entry into the camp of the band, commanded by the lieutenant Lieutenant Domenico Morlungo, the departments that took part in the operation "Leonte XV" in Lebanon were positioned. Following the entry of the banner of the city of Rome, of national medalists, of the lauds of the combat and weapon associations and of the war flag of the 1 grenadier regiment.
The ceremony was presided over by Corps General Roberto Bernardini, commander of the land operational forces. Numerous family members who participated in the return and numerous civil and military authorities who welcomed the brigade, including the army corps general Massimiliano Del Casale, commander of CESIVA, the army corps general of the reserve Mario Buscemi, national president of the national association "grenadiers of Sardinia", general Antonio Bettelli, commander of the Friuli brigade, lieutenant colonel Emanuele Patalano, commander of the squadron group on horseback of the lancers of Montebello, representing the commander of the Lancers detachment, the lieutenant Colonel Giancarlo Cati, head of the regiment's equestrian center.
General Riccò, before giving the floor to the commander of the terrestrial operational forces, thanked "the soldiers of Leonte XV for their service, devouring tears in silence and giving his heart to the Mission". "In Lebanon - the commander of the Grenadiers concluded - you have brought not only the professionalism and the courageous commitment to contribute to the success of the mission, but you have brought a piece of Italy, the most true and sincere, the one richest in values. The seed planted in that distant land will grow and bear fruit; and this also thanks to you ".
General Bernardini, in his speech, congratulated the men and women who returned from the contingent for their professionalism. He complimented, in particular with the departments, for showing great attention and sensitivity, and for how they dealt with the population and the Lebanese military and civil authorities.
During the ceremony, the lawyer Franco Ciufo, deputy delegate of Lazio of the sacred military Constantinian order of San Giorgio, presented the gold medal of merit of the aforementioned order to the "grenadiers of Sardinia" brigade command in the hands of his commander "for the development of humanitarian activities in areas victims of theaters of war "including Lebanon.
Before the war flag returned, Father Pierluca Bancale, the brigade's military chaplain, recited the grenadier's prayer.
The ceremony was an opportunity to retrace the six-month commitment of the Grenadier Brigade of Sardinia in Lebanese territory in a very sensitive period for the stabilization of the entire region.
Monica Palermo
