Washington November 22, 2019. The Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Armando Varricchio opened yesterday the annual event organized by the Defense Attaché, Gen. Stefano Cont, in honor of the wounded Italian and American warriors.
The event, held in the presence of the Assistant Secretary for International Security at the Pentagon, Catherine Barger, was attended by 5 Italian soldiers and over 40 US military patients from the Walter Reed Military Hospital in Bethesda.
In his speech, the Ambassador recalled the anniversary of the Nassirya massacre and the recent attack in Kirkuk thast left five Italian soldiers seriously injured.
“Their stories are often not told – said the Ambassador – but their lives are testimony to the strength and determination with which Italy and the United States fight to defend the values of freedom and democracy against terrorism and new and emerging challenges that threaten our societies. They are, together with their families – the Ambassador continued – an example of courage and valor”.
Finally, the Ambassador underlined the collaboration between Italian and American institutions, companies and research institutes aimed at constantly improving the security conditions in which military personnel operate abroad and guaranteeing access to the best medical care for the injured both in theater and at home.
During the evening, Col. Roberto Punzo, wounded in Lebanon in 2006 and Bronze Medal for Military Valor, shared his experience with touching words that perfectly represented the sense of the initiative.
