Today, November 4, There are numerous celebrations planned throughout Italy for the National Unity and Armed Forces Day. In Rome, the usual event, with the deposition of the laurel wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldierby the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarellaaccompanied by the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosettoin the presence of the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, and of president of the Senate, Ignazio La Russa.
Armed Forces Day ceremony (rainews)
Armed Forces Day Ceremony (rainews)
Armed Forces Day ceremony. Mattrella arrives at the Altar of Peace for the deposition of the Laurel Wreath at the Shrine of the Unknown Soldier (Rainews)
Armed Forces Day ceremony: the Frecce tricolori (rainews)
The President of the Republic then moved to Piazza San Marco, in Venice, for this year’s official ceremony. Accompanied again by Guido Crosetto, the head of state is with the chief of defense staff, general Luciano Portolanoand the civil and military authorities. The departments of the armed forces and the military band are lined up on the esplanade. Then the performance of the paratroopers and the flyover of the Frecce tricolori.
Sergio Mattarella and Guido Crosetto in Piazza San Marco (Rainews24)
Sergio Mattarella’s message
“November 4th celebrates National Unity and honors the Armed Forces, whose exploits have contributed to making Italy an independent, free nation, inspired by democratic values and peace”. The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, says soin the message sent to the Minister of Defense, Guido Crosetto, on the occasion of National Unity and Armed Forces Day. “A date – he continues – which evokes distant events, wars and bloody battles which brought devastation and wounds to the society of the time. Today, the Republic looks with respect and devotion at the path which, from the Risorgimento to the First World War, to the Liberation, to the choice of European and Atlantic solidarity, has been able to build a cohesive, united country, bearer of values of peace in the international community”.
“Our Armed Forces continue to operate in distant lands in numerous missions, underlining with their commitment the vocation of our country to cultivate and preserve respect for international law”, writes the Head of State “a special thought to our military deployed in the Middle East where, by mandate of the United Nations and in the context of bilateral missions, continue to ensure their contribution to maintaining peacealleviating the suffering of the defenseless population in a dramatic humanitarian situation, promoting respect for international humanitarian law”.
“On this day, the most grateful and moving thoughts go to those who fell, sacrificing their lives for Italy. Their memory – continues Mattarella – sounds like an exhortation to the civil conscience of the country, especially to the younger generations, so that they know follow the path of commitment to the defense of the values of the Constitution”. “Soldiers, sailors, airmen, carabinieri, financiers and civilian defense personnel, your service to the Republic, to which you have sworn loyalty, deserves the applause and gratitude of our fellow citizens. Long live the Armed Forces, long live Italy”, he concludes Mattarella.
The house of the Armed Forces opens at the Circus Maximus
Al Defense Villageset up at the Circus Maximus in Rome from 1st to 4th November, it is possible to discover our Armed Forces through a series of demonstration eventsincluding flight simulators, military training tests, concerts by musical bands, conferences, performances by dog units, live connections with our soldiers on missions around the world and much more. Entrance is free.
The reason for the national holiday
On 4 November, Italy remembers, by commemorating its fallen, the Armistice of Villa Giusti (which came into force on 4 November 1918) which it allowed the Italians to return to the territories of Trento and Triesteand complete the process of national unification begun in the Risorgimento era.
On this day we intend to remember, in a special way, all those who, even very young, have sacrificed the supreme good of life for an ideal of homeland and attachment to duty: values unchanged over time, for the soldiers of then and those of today .
A unitary state only since 1861, Italy entered the conflict with the emotions and beliefs of the Risorgimento still alive. That was the first dramatic collective experience that occurred after the proclamation of the Kingdom.
The military commitment along the north-eastern border, from the Stelvio to the Asiago plateaus, from the Dolomites to the Isonzo and up to the sea, was testimony to that profound feeling of love of country that animated our soldiers and the Italians in those years.
Italy demonstrated that it was a nation and fueled this sense of belonging with the strenuous resistance on the Grappa and Piave, until the days of Vittorio Veneto.
To honor the sacrifices of the soldiers who fell in defense of the homeland 4 November 1921 the burial of the “Unknown Soldier” took place in the Sacellum of the Altare della Patria in Rome.
With Royal Decree n.1354 of 23 October 1922, 4 November was declared a national holiday.
Today, on the occasion of November 4th and in the days immediately preceding, the highest officials of the State pay homage to the Fallen of all wars by going to the Places of Remembrance.
The Armed Forces, remembering the national unity achieved, honor the sacrifice of over six hundred thousand fallen and many other thousands of wounded and maimed, with a feeling of gratitude that the celebration of 4 November wants to keep alive since it is from the experience of history that the indispensable values of a Nation. The meaning of the memory of the Great War is not that of the celebration of a victory, or of the overcoming of the enemy, but that of having defended freedom, achieving a unity that was as difficult as it was strongly desired.
Established in 1922 as Victory Daywhich fell somewhat into oblivion in 1977 due to the cutting of some holidays, two years ago on the recommendation of President Mattarellaalso in order not to underline a military victory over another member country of the European Union, acquired the denomination of “National Unity and Armed Forces Day”.
Until the 90sthe tradition so dear to children but also to adults, which it would be desirable to restore, was the opening of the barracks to the public with a rapprochement between the people and the Armed Forces.
From the centenary of 2018instead the festival is celebrated every year in a different city.
This year the ceremony will be in Venice. Starting from 11.40am Raiuno will broadcast the celebration live, always in the presence of the head of state.
