Some events go beyond the meaning of a military ceremony. Occasions in which history ceases to be merely a collection of dates, names, and distant events, and comes back to life through people, reunions, embraces, and that sense of belonging that only those who have worn the maroon beret can fully understand.
The 84º anniversary of the Battle of El-Alamein, celebrated in Pistoia together with the Parachute Specialty Day and the National Gathering of the Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia, was all of this.
BrigataFolgore.net experienced these days alongside the Naples Section of ANPd'I and its President, Paratrooper Vincenzo Palumbo, sharing not only the solemn moments of the celebrations, but also that extraordinary human dimension that makes every gathering of paratroopers something special.
A journey of history and traditions, of old friendships rediscovered and new acquaintances, of memories kept for decades and recounted as though time had never passed.
Above all, a journey into the deepest meaning of two words that, for generations of Italian paratroopers, represent far more than a simple motto: Folgore and belonging.
October 22: the eve, reunions, and the great paratrooper family
Our account begins on Thursday, October 22, on the eve of the commemoration.
Pistoia is preparing to welcome paratroopers from across Italy. In the city streets, reunions and first greetings already reveal the spirit of an event destined to leave its mark.
There are men who have not seen each other for years, sometimes decades. Former comrades who shared military service, training, exercises, and operational missions. People who went on to lead entirely different lives, yet have preserved intact a bond forged under the same beret.
All it takes is a glance, a name, or the memory of a company or commander for the distance of time to suddenly seem erased.
Together with the President of the Naples Section of ANPd'I, Vincenzo Palumbo, we had the pleasure of experiencing this eve from within, meeting paratroopers from different generations, united by the same sense of belonging to the Specialty.
The evening continued with the dinner of the Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d’Italia (ANPd’I), a social gathering that brought together numerous paratroopers, led by Lieutenant General (ret.) Marco Bertolini, national president of ANPd’I. Also attending among the Association’s national leadership were Brigadier General (ret.) Parachutist Enrico Pollini, national secretary; Parachutist Alberto Benatti, national technical secretary; and Lieutenant General (ret.) of the Carabinieri, Parachutist Carmelo Burgio, president of the ANPd’I Centro Studi di Storia del Paracadutismo Militare Italiano.
Numerous sections from across Italy attended together with their members.
The presence at the dinner of Parachutist Vincenzo Catenaro and his wife Maddalena, parents of Corporal Parachutist Gianluca Catenaro, who served with the 186º Reggimento Paracadutisti “Folgore”, was particularly significant. He tragically died in Spain in 1994 during a military exercise and was awarded the Croce d’Oro al Merito dell’Esercito. Their participation was a moment of deep human significance, bearing witness to the bond that unites the wider paratrooper family, including in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
It was therefore an opportunity to meet again, talk, and share experiences, away from the formality of official ceremonies but with the same emotional intensity.
It is precisely in moments such as these that the Association’s role becomes clear: to keep alive the ties among those who served in paratrooper units, safeguard their traditions, and pass on their moral heritage to future generations.
Not merely memories of the past, then, but a community that continues to identify with the same values.
October 23: Pistoia becomes the heart of Folgore
On Friday, October 23, the Tuscan city was the center of celebrations for the 84º anniversary of the Battle of El-Alamein.
At 11:00 a.m., the “Marcello Melani” Municipal Stadium hosted the solemn commemorative ceremony, attended by senior military authorities, institutional representatives, armed units, retired paratroopers, and citizens.
This year, the event took on even greater significance.
At the express request of the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, the Adunata Nazionale dell'ANPd'I was held alongside the Festa della Specialità Paracadutisti, bringing together serving personnel and veterans in a single major commemorative event.
A decision of great symbolic value, making visible the continuity between different generations—between those who operationally represent Folgore today and those who have preserved its memory and traditions over the years.
Because leaving active service ends a soldier's service, but does not erase a paratrooper's identity.
And gathering together once again, on such a significant day, was one of the most moving moments of this experience.
The solemn ceremony and honors for the fallen of El-Alamein
The military formation, led by Brigadier General Dario Paduano, Commander of the Brigata Paracadutisti “Folgore”, included units of Folgore, a contingent from the Comando Forze Speciali dell’Esercito, the 1° Reggimento Carabinieri paracadutisti “Tuscania”, and the 46° Brigata Aerea di Pisa, each represented by its own War Flag.
Attending the commemoration were the Undersecretary of State for Defense, Senator Isabella Rauti; the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello; and MP Paola Chiesa, Fratelli d’Italia group leader on the Chamber of Deputies Defense Committee, along with civilian and military authorities. Also present in the official stand, underscoring the deep bond with the Specialty, was Lieutenant Colonel Paratrooper Gianfranco Paglia, Gold Medal of Military Valor recipient.
The ceremony paid tribute to the Italian soldiers who fought on the North African front during the Second Battle of El-Alamein in October and November 1942.
Under extremely difficult conditions, facing overwhelming superiority in equipment and manpower, those soldiers fought until their operational capabilities were exhausted.
The Battle of El-Alamein ended in the defeat of Axis forces, but the conduct of the Italian units—particularly the Folgore paratroopers in the southern sector of the line—remained a testament to determination, sacrifice, and cohesion.
Today, 84 years later, remembering those men means, above all, paying tribute to those who never returned and to those who faced the war through to its most extreme consequences.
General Bertolini opens the proceedings: President Mattarella's message and the value of ANPd'I
The official remarks at the “Marcello Melani” Stadium were opened by Lieutenant General (Ret.) Marco Bertolini, national president of the Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia, who read the message sent to the Association by the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, on the occasion of the 84º anniversary of the Battle of El-Alamein and the ANPd'I National Rally.
In his message, the Head of State extended a warm greeting to serving and retired paratroopers, their families and loved ones, expressing appreciation for the dedication and professionalism of the women and men who wear the maroon beret. He recalled the history of the branch, from the Guerra di Liberazione to international missions, and the values of courage, sacrifice and sense of duty that have marked its path. Mattarella also paid a heartfelt tribute to the fallen and the wounded, recalling their service to the country and their fidelity to the principles of the Constitution.
Continuing his address, Bertolini offered special greetings to the Undersecretary of State for Defense, Senator Isabella Rauti, a member of ANPd'I, and expressed his sincere gratitude to the Chief of Staff of Esercito Italiano, Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello, for granting the Association the rare honor of fielding its own contingent alongside military units during the solemn ceremony.
The national president also recalled another important achievement for the Association: the approval of Circular 7044, which restored to ANPd'I the regulatory framework needed to resume parachute jumping with hemispherical-canopy parachutes. A measure long awaited by the Association, which Bertolini described as «an act of justice», recognizing the commitment of the Chief of Staff of Esercito Italiano to making this activity possible once again, a fundamental part of paratroopers' identity and traditions.
Particularly significant was the passage devoted to the Battle of El-Alamein. Bertolini urged those present to view the conduct of the Italian paratroopers in 1942 as an example of valor, determination, and self-sacrifice, while recalling a fundamental historical truth: El-Alamein was a lost battle. Those gathered in Pistoia were therefore not celebrating a victory, but honoring the memory of men who, even in defeat, demonstrated extraordinary courage and devotion to duty.
During his address, the General also referred to the message sent to the Association by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Luciano Portolano, who described ANPd'I paratroopers as «Guardians of a legacy of courage, audacity, and total dedication to the Homeland».
The address placed at the heart of the day the unbreakable bond between the memory of those who fell at El-Alamein, the paratroopers currently serving, and those who, although they have left active military service, continue to preserve and pass on the traditions of Folgore through the Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia.
General Paduano: «Folgore belongs not only to its history, but to the responsibility of those who serve it today»
The ceremony's second address was delivered by “Aquila 1,” Brigadier General Dario Paduano, Commander of the Brigata Paracadutisti “Folgore”, who gave a powerful speech devoted to the memory of the fallen, the significance of the Bandiere di Guerra, and the responsibilities awaiting the new generations of paratroopers.
«I invite you to look at the 14 Bandiere di Guerra before you. The gleam you see on these flags is that of the decorations that bear witness to courage, valor, suffering, and sacrifice».
With these words, Paduano drew the attention of those present to the decorations that tell the story of thousands of Italian servicemen, many of whom paid for their service to the Homeland with their lives. Behind every award, he noted, lies a human story, a memory that belongs not only to the units, but to the entire country.
The Folgore Commander then offered a particularly moving thought for those who never returned: sons who could not embrace their families again, fathers who never saw their children again, and young men denied a future. Men whose names have sometimes even been forgotten, but whose sacrifice must never be forgotten.
It is precisely in this responsibility to remember, Paduano stressed, that the meaning of the El-Alamein commemoration lies. It is an occasion that must not be limited to celebrating the past, but must challenge every generation to reflect on its own role and duties.
According to the General, the answer lies in the young people who still choose to wear the maroon beret today, preparing to defend the country both within and beyond its national borders.
«Folgore did not shrink from its duty and will not shrink from the responsibilities entrusted to it».
Looking to the Brigade's future, Paduano also addressed technological innovation and the evolution of operational scenarios. Progress, he explained, must enable units to operate better and faster, without ever losing sight of the human factor, individual preparedness, and the value of teamwork.
«No technology can compensate for a lack of preparation. No unit can be strong unless the men and women who make it up are strong».
A direct reminder of the central importance of personnel, discipline, and continuous training—elements that remain indispensable even in the face of the transformations of modern warfare.
Addressing the paratroopers drawn up in formation, the Commander then issued an exhortation aimed above all at younger generations: «Respect those who came before you, but do not be content merely to inherit their legacy».
An invitation not to live solely on past glory, but to prove every day that they are worthy of that history through study, training, courage, professionalism, and cohesion.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Paduano returned in spirit to the nights of the Egyptian desert, recalling the 84 years separating today's paratroopers from the fighters of El-Alamein. The past cannot be changed, but the present can give concrete meaning to the sacrifice of those men, turning their memory into commitment and responsibility.
«Folgore belongs not only to its history; it belongs to the responsibility of those who serve it today and those who will serve it tomorrow».
These words encapsulated the central message of “Aquila 1”: honoring the fallen does not simply mean remembering their deeds, but embracing their moral legacy and demonstrating through one's actions that one is worthy to carry it forward.
General Masiello: «Folgore belongs to Italy and all its citizens»
The third address of the ceremony was delivered by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello, senior member of the Paratrooper Branch, who retraced the sacrifice of the fighters of El-Alamein, calling on younger generations to take responsibility for preserving their memory and honoring their values through daily service.
«Eighty-four years ago, the roar of artillery shattered the silence of the Egyptian desert». With this evocative image, Masiello symbolically brought those present back to the night of October 23, 1942, when one of the decisive battles of World War II began.
The General recalled the young Italian soldiers who faced that ultimate trial—young men from every corner of the country, from different social backgrounds and united beneath a single Flag. Men who, despite the brutality of battle, demonstrated extraordinary cohesion, «placing We before I», with a determination that, in the words of the Chief of Staff, no tank could crush.
A moral legacy that spans generations and that, in an era once again marked by wars and international tensions, retains all of its strength.
«Paratroopers! We are the heirs to that history, a history written in the blood of our brothers. We are the guardians of that memory».
Masiello then reaffirmed a fundamental principle, noting that Folgore, like the entire Army, belongs to the Nation and to all Italian citizens, in accordance with the constitutional values that the Armed Forces are called upon to defend.
«Folgore, like the entire Army, belongs to Italy and its citizens, united by the values of the Constitution that we have all chosen to protect».
His remarks to the young paratroopers on parade were particularly heartfelt. The General, who personally understands the meaning and responsibilities of service in the Speciality, addressed directly those who today carry forward its legacy:
«Young paratroopers, I know well what it means to have the honor of wearing the maroon beret, and the burden of bearing its responsibilities. It will be the echo of your choice that gives you the strength to live up to it».
A message that emphasized awareness of the military choice, a sense of belonging, and the individual responsibility to be worthy of the traditions represented by the maroon beret.
In concluding his address, the Chief of Staff of the Army recalled the values that must continue to guide the actions of paratroopers: boldness, discipline, honor, adaptability, and unwavering loyalty to Italy.
These were the values held by the combatants of El-Alamein, and today they must translate into readiness, professionalism, and willingness to sacrifice in every theater where the Army is called upon to operate in defense of the country and international security.
A speech in which the memory of the Folgore of 1942 was intertwined with the responsibilities of today's Folgore, reaffirming that the most authentic way to honor the men of El-Alamein is to safeguard their ideals and translate them every day into concrete action in the service of Italy.
Isabella Rauti: the courage of El-Alamein lives on in today’s Folgore
The Undersecretary of State for Defence, Senator Isabella Rauti, also recalled the link between the memory of the fallen and the service of the men and women of the Parachute Brigade “Folgore”, weaving together personal memories, gratitude and reflections on Folgore’s role in today’s Army.
«I want to thank you for the warm welcome. It should not be taken for granted, but it is what one expects when returning home», she began, addressing the authorities, serving and retired paratroopers, all the maroon berets in attendance and their families.
Rauti then noted that the pride of belonging to the branch can be seen in the eyes of those who wear its beret—eyes proud and aware of their own history.
She expressed gratitude which, she stressed, predates her institutional role by many years, also recalling her personal connection with paratrooper traditions and with the hymns and songs of Folgore, learned over the years.
As an honorary paratrooper, she recalled the meaning and responsibility of that recognition: being worthy of the men and women who wear the maroon beret every day.
Special thanks were extended to the Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Carmine Masiello, for the innovative drive he has brought to the service, combining what Rauti described as a paratrooper’s pragmatism with the wisdom of a Chief of Staff.
Recounting the sacrifice of the combatants at El-Alamein, the Undersecretary recalled the extreme conditions they faced in the Egyptian desert: stifling daytime heat, cold nights, and scarce water, rations and equipment. A test of endurance, courage and determination whose meaning continues to live on in today’s Folgore, through the daily commitment of its paratroopers in Italy and abroad.
Rauti then referred to the AEGIS 2026 training activity, highlighting the exceptionally high level of professionalism achieved by the Brigade’s units. As evidence of their operational readiness, she also cited the recent deployment of 500 paratroopers sent to Milan with extremely short notice, underscoring Folgore’s ability to respond promptly to Defence requirements.
Hence the concluding message of her address: the Brigata Paracadutisti “Folgore” is a strategic reserve for national defense, a force ready to intervene in the most difficult situations and emergencies, on which the Armed Forces and Italy can always rely.
An address that linked the remembrance of those who fell at El-Alamein with today’s operational reality, reaffirming the continuity between memory, esprit de corps, professionalism and service to the Nation.
ANPd'I, a bridge between generations
The presence of the Associazione Nazionale Paracadutisti d'Italia gave the day further significance.
Alongside serving paratroopers were men from very different generations, each with their own history and experiences.
From veterans to younger former service members, the gathering provided an opportunity to renew a bond that transcends time.
ANPd'I fulfills precisely this role: keeping the culture of military parachuting alive, preserving the traditions of the Specialty, and strengthening ties between serving and former paratroopers.
Sharing this experience meant witnessing firsthand the Association’s vitality and the value of people who, with passion and dedication, contribute every day to keeping its activities alive.
It is often a quiet commitment, pursued through initiatives, meetings, commemorations and ongoing association work.
It is also thanks to this commitment that the history of Folgore continues to be told, known and passed on.
Beyond the ceremony: what remains of an unforgettable day
An event such as the one in Pistoia cannot be described solely through the official program, the speeches by authorities or the number of units on parade.
There is another dimension, perhaps less formal but equally important.
It is found in reunions between old comrades-in-arms. In memories resurfacing. In photographs taken together. In stories of military life being shared once again.
It is found in men who, even after many years, continue to recognize one another as members of the same family.
For those who have served in the Folgore, coming together on occasions like this also means retracing part of their own lives.
The companies, the commanders, the barracks, the exercises, the jumps, the missions. Different experiences, united by a shared heritage of values and relationships that does not fade with the passing years.
This is the Folgore we found in Pistoia. Not merely a major formation of the Italian Army, but also a human community that continues to live on through its men and women, past and present.
A reality in which respect for history coexists with the pride of belonging to a branch that remains a fundamental component of the Army's operational capabilities.
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