The streets of Marsala, from May 8 to 11, resounded with songs and music on the occasion of the 72nd national gathering of the Bersaglieri, which brought together approximately 10.000 participants in an event of great symbolic and historical value, which transformed the city into a true capital of remembrance and national identity.
The gathering was divided into four intense days, full of institutional ceremonies, moments of historical and cultural reflection, musical, artistic and sporting events. From the flag-raising ceremony in Piazza della Repubblica, which started the event, to the concerts of fanfares from all over Italy, up to the solemn final parade on May 11, which saw thousands of bersaglieri march through the streets of the historic center amidst the warm applause of the citizens. The gathering was also a moment of encounter with young people and the school world through training sessions, thematic exhibitions, and a competition reserved for students on the value of memory and identity.
The event concluded with a running parade, in the presence of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, dean of the specialty, the Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies, Hon. Giorgio Mulè, the President of the 3rd Permanent Commission on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Senate, Senator Stefania Craxi, the commanders and non-commissioned officers of the Bersaglieri regiments of the Italian Army and of the sections of the whole of Italy of theNational Bersaglieri Association.
During the four days of the gathering, the 6th Bersaglieri Regiment of Trapani was repeatedly the protagonist with its highly decorated War Flag, the honorary company and the historic fanfare, in the institutional ceremonies and in the collateral events, among which, in particular, the traditional gymnastic show, a peculiarity of the Bersaglieri, enriched by the demonstration of techniques of the Military Combat Method and crowd control, in conjunction with the “bersaglieri brothers” of the 11th regiment, held at the city's municipal stadium.
The citizens of Marsala warmly welcomed the Bersaglieri, with a crowd that filled the entire route of the parade and enthusiastically greeted the passage of the soldiers who, accompanied by fanfares, demonstrated their proud attachment to the traditions of the specialty founded on June 18, 1836 by General La Marmora, which still embodies the values of courage, dedication and spirit of service.
