"I am particularly honored to represent the Sardinian Region on such a solemn and prestigious occasion as the XXI National Gathering of the Arma Aeronautica - Aviators of Italy Association , which is also an opportunity to remember and celebrate the 70th anniversary of foundation of the Association and the 79th anniversary of the tribute paid by Alghero to the violence of the war , which struck with a terrible bombing on the town and on the military airport on May 17, 1943 ”.

With these words, the President of the Region Christian Solinas greeted the Chief of Staff of the Air Squad Luca Goretti , in the demonstration underway in Alghero : "This meeting - he said - is the maximum expression of vitality and presence of the Arma Aeronautics - Aviators of Italy, at regional, national and international level ".

Solinas recalled the bombing of May 17, 1943 . In the Nit de Sant Pasqual the city was devastated, there were over 150 dead. There were many areas affected: from the hospital to the Cathedral, from via Carlo Alberto to via Roma and many others in the historic center: “More than 500 houses destroyed and 2,000 seriously damaged. The bombing took the people who had not left the city to sleep, all the roofs of the houses in the historic center were hit. A very high percentage of homeless people remained homeless for several years . A very high tribute, a tragedy from which Alghero was bravely able to rise again. For this reason the Region supports the initiative of the Municipality aimed at the recognition of the Gold Medal for Military Valor in favor of the City, as already happened for Cagliari ”.

“It is right to keep alive the memory of the most tragic moments of our history, ancient and recent - he added -. Not only to justly honor the victims and, with them, all those who with the uniform spent their energies, their value and their lives to defend the population. But also because from those tragedies one must perceive a warning and draw a lesson . We must defend peace, freedom, democracy. And this mission appears to our eyes today in its renewed urgency, in the light, if it can be called light, of the events we are witnessing and which are happening at the gates of Europe with the serious risk of an enlargement to our lands. Once again we invoke peace, and once again we understand that it is not, it cannot be considered exclusively as the silence of arms, even though it is so necessary and urgent. Peace is something different and more than the absence of war. It is an interior condition that must start from the conscience of every woman and every man and must make us inclined to mutual respect, hospitality, friendship between people and peoples, respecting the diversity and identity of each one. Only on this basis can there truly be peace between people and between peoples ”.

"We look with great closeness and friendship to the Air Force, and we develop together with it various projects of international importance - he then underlined -. The International Flight School which is being set up in the Decimomannu military airport is a very important example of this. It is a project of extraordinary importance, capable of developing high levels of training and technology. A center of excellence for advanced flight training with the training of pilots from many countries, a strategic investment in military policy. A project in an excellent state of progress that will also have positive economic repercussions for the area, with a view to renewed collaboration between institutions. Decimomannu will become a center of excellence for advanced flight training , it will host the most modern and advanced integrated training system among those present in other Western countries, created thanks to the positive synergy between the world of defense, industry and our Region. The International Flight Training School will make it possible to double the current training offer of the Air Force through the creation of a training center that will join the one already existing at the Galatina air base ".

MATTARELLA - The message of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella also arrived from the Quirinale: "On the occasion of the XXI National Gathering I am pleased to address my greeting to the Arma Aeronautica Association which celebrates the 70th anniversary of its foundation and to all those who will meet Alghero. While I pay homage to the standards of the weapon associations present and to the memory of those who have self-denied their attachment to the homeland, I underline how the heritage of values and the tradition of professionalism of the Air Force, with the involvement of all passionate about aeronautical sport and the progress of flight, are a meritorious feature of the Association's activity that aims to preserve its experiences, in the ideal relay that binds soldiers on duty and on leave. I wish a fruitful meeting and express appreciation for the activities of volunteering carried out also involving the participation of young gen erations and family members, thus contributing to the cohesion of the country. One step away from the milestone that will lead to celebrating the centenary of the foundation of the Air Force next year, I express to all those present, on behalf of the Republic, sentiments of esteem and gratitude ".

(Unioneonline / D)

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