Today we celebrate the 158 anniversary of the establishment of the Italian Army. The messages of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella and of the Minister of Defense, Elisabetta Trenta, could not be missing.
Thus President Mattarella, in a message sent to the Army Chief of Staff, General of the Army Corps, Salvatore Farina:"On the anniversary of the 158 anniversary of the establishment of the Italian Army I renew, with unchanged gratitude, the homage of the country to the Flag of the armed force, symbol of the values of honor witnessed on so many occasions, and to the fallen, whose sacrifice has allowed the realization of an independent, unified, free State. The enthusiasm, the spirit of sacrifice, the dedication of the women and men of the Army, they have always represented an important moral resource, strengthened, today, by the tasks attributed to the Armed Forces by the principles expressed in the Republican Constitution. In full continuity with its glorious history, the terrestrial armed force works in defense of the national community and the international community, with the presence in areas tormented to safeguard human rights and against the destabilizing drifts of terrorism, providing a significant contribution, alongside the police forces ", says Mattarella," to the safety of our cities and intervening on the occasion of natural disasters and particularly serious atmospheric events".
Mattarella affirms, then, that "the great humanity and the traditional capacity for respect and dialogue that Italian soldiers highlight in every context are a distinctive characteristic of our people, which has earned them general appreciation. The authority shown in the missions to safeguard international peace and stability has enriched the prestige of Italy and its armed forces everywhere. Then turning to all the staff"be proud of being the oldest component of our Armed Forces, dear to all Italians. With these sentiments and wishes, on behalf of our fellow citizens, I extend an affectionate greeting to you and your family, and express my deepest appreciation for your work. Long live the Italian Army ", concludes Mattarella," long live the Armed Forces, long live the Republic".
Defense Minister, Elibasetta Trenta has thus communicated its gift to the personnel of the Italian Army:"In the 158 anniversary of the establishment of your prestigious Armed Force, my thoughts turn to the Army Flag, a symbol of unity, honor and military value, and to all soldiers of all ranks, weapons and specialties, fallen for the defense of the Fatherland and for the preservation of its institutions. Today we celebrate the 158 anniversary of the establishment of the Italian Army, which took place with the dissolution of the pre-unitary armies and with the transformation of the Sardinian Army. Precisely they, during the years of the Risorgimento, fought to give our people a national identity after centuries of foreign domination, to affirm the right of Italians to have their own unified, independent and sovereign State and with it, in that distant 1861, an own Army, the Italian Army. Italy finally became a state, a recognizable and recognized nation. The Army, which had given a significant boost to the maturing of national identity, thus became one of the first institutions to have the honor of representing united Italy".
Trenta observes that "today, after 158 years, we can say that the Army represents not only an armed force, but an irreplaceable heritage of Italy, a resource that is always ready and indispensable for the service of citizens. Faced with the new and increasingly complex challenges in the current international scenario, the Army women and men, with their ability to project beyond national borders and with their contribution to the national territory, are a primary element of our System country. The certificates of esteem, at home and abroad, the appreciation for the activities that the Army leads in contributing to maintaining a high level of security in our cities, the work that has been continuously carried out for the benefit of the population for about three years of Central Italy affected by the earthquake, as well as the appreciation for the activities carried out by the Italian military in favor of the stabilization and development of regions plagued by crises and conflicts abroad ", affirms the Minister of Defense," are the precious testimony of recognition to the value of the tradition of fidelity expressed over the centuries by the Army ”.