25 April: St Mark, patron saint of the Lagunari
Today, 25 April, the Lagunari of the 'Serenissima' Regiment celebrate their patron saint, St Mark the Evangelist. This date, which coincides with the death of the Evangelist, is a moment of deep reflection and pride for the amphibious soldiers of the Italian Army. St. Mark is not only the protector of the city of Venice, but also the living symbol of the values and history of the Lagunari.
According to tradition, St Mark was shipwrecked in the Venetian lagoon during a voyage. In a dream, an angel appeared to him saying: "Pax tibi, Marce, evangelista meus. Hic requiescet corpus tuum" ('Peace be upon thee, Mark, my evangelist. Here shall thy body rest'). The prophecy was fulfilled in 828, when two Venetian merchants stole his relics from Alexandria and brought them to Venice, hiding them under loads of pork to evade Muslim controls. Since then, the figure of St Mark has become the spiritual heart of the city and the winged lion, his symbol, stands out on the coats of arms and uniforms of the Lagunari.
I Lagunari: soldiers of history and tradition
Despite being the youngest speciality of the Italian Army, the Lagunaris boast a centuries-old tradition. Already during the Fourth Crusade, in 1203, Doge Enrico Dandolo established a regiment deployed on Venetian ships, which was employed in the two Byzantine seizures. In 1550 they were consolidated as 'Fanti da Mar', protagonists at Famagusta and Candia.
Over the centuries, the fighting tradition of the lagoon has been renewed: from the 'Cacciatori del Sile' during the heroic defence of Venice in 1848, to the Marina and San Marco Regiments during the Great War, to the formations of the Second World War, such as the San Marco Division and the 'Barbarigo' battalion of the 10th MAS.
After the war, on 15 January 1951, the first nucleus of the future Lagunari was born in Venice Lido. On 20 October 1959, in a ceremony full of meaning, the War Flag was presented in St Mark's Square. In 1964, the Lagunari "Serenissima" Regiment was officially born, with the "Marghera", "Piave" and "Isonzo" battalions.
After various restructurings, the Regiment was reunited in 1992 and is now part of the 'Pozzuolo del Friuli' Cavalry Brigade. The Lagunaris operate where water and land merge: canals, rivers, coastlines, lagoons. And precisely in these hostile environments, their adaptability and spirit of initiative make the difference.
The value of the Winged Lion
The Lagunaris have operated in national and international missions: from 'Vespri Siciliani' in Sicily, to the 'Ancient Babylon' mission in Iraq, where they mourned their first casualties: Captain Massimiliano Ficuciello and 1st Corporal Matteo Vanzan. They have also been in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon (operation 'Leonte'). Since 2009, they have been active in Venice as part of the 'Strade Sicure' operation.
Their commitment was recognised with important decorations: Gold and Silver Medals for Valour of the Army, Silver Cross of Merit of the Army. But even more than the medals, it is the symbol of the winged lion that speaks: present on coats of arms, uniforms and hearts. The cry 'San Marco!' is much more than a formula: it is a bond of brotherhood, it is a spiritual legacy.
Every 25 April, the Lagunari celebrate their patron saint with religious and military ceremonies. The date coincides with the death of the Evangelist, but for the Lagunari it is also a rebirth: an occasion to renew their oath to the Fatherland, to honour, to sacrifice.
St Mark is therefore much more than a saint. He is the living symbol of the courage, discipline and history that inextricably binds the Lagunari to their Venice. A bond that resists time, war and water - just like the lion that watches over the Serenissima.
Born Alessandro Generotti, C.le Maj. Parachutist on leave. Military Parachutist Patent no. 192806. 186th RGT Par. Folgore/5th BTG. Par. El Alamein/XIII Cp. Par. Condor.
Founder and administrator of the website BRIGATAFOLGORE.NET. Blogger and computer scientist by profession.
