AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- Members and representatives from the coalition forces at Al Udeid Air Base gathered on the morning of Nov. 4 to celebrate Giorno delle Forze Armate, Italian Armed Forces Day. This day commemorates the Allied victory in World War I and also serves as a time to honor those within the Italian Armed Forces, both past and present.
The ceremony began with the raising of the Italian flag, followed by a moment of silence.
“[On] Nov. 4, 1918, our country emerged victorious from a conflict marked by extremely high human and material costs,” said Lt. Col. Michele Anelli, an officer in the Italian Air Force Detachment at the Combined Air Operations Center. “Hundreds of thousands of soldiers gave their lives honoring the oath of allegiance to them, and together with the fallen of every age and circumstance, in the name of the Fatherland, we now give our gratitude and… greeting.”
The Italian Detachment was not alone in its observance of the special day. Alongside them stood representatives and members from the coalition forces, to include Guido de Sanctis, Italian Ambassador to Qatar, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, Brig. Gen. Ahmed Al-Obaidly representing the commander of the Qatari forces at Al Udeid Air Base, Brig. Gen. Darren James, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, and many others.
“We are proud to stand here today alongside our Italian partners,” said Brig. Gen. James. “As coalition partners we integrate, train and fight together, but it’s also important that we come together to recognize the sacrifices of those who came before.”
After a moment of silence, Ambassador Guido de Sanctis presented certificates of appreciation for both Brig. Gen. Abdul-Wahid El-Erik and Lt. Gen. Harrigian in recognition of their support and partnership.
“Thanks to his spirit,” the certificate stated in regards to Harrigian, “the collaborative efforts that bind us to one another are now even stronger, just as the relationship between Italy and the United States.”
In the letter to Brig. Gen. Fahd Abdul-Wahid El-Erik, it stated that “he has always sponsored the needs of the Italian forces along the upper echelons and acted first-hand to meet them promptly,” and thanked him for his support and consideration to the Italian forces.
After the certificates were given, the ceremony ended and the members dispersed with refueled camaraderie, thinking of all those that they serve with and the fight that they all take part in together.