Czech Republic, commemoration of the fallen of the World Wars

On the initiative of the Italian Embassy in Prague, on 2 November the Italian Military Memorial in Milovice - the burial place of 5,276 Italian soldiers and soldiers of other nationalities - hosted the traditional ceremony commemorating the fallen in the territories of the present-day Czech Republic during the two World Wars. The touching moment of the laying of wreaths at the foot of the War Memorial by Ambassador Mauro Marsili and representatives of civil and military authorities was preceded by the performance of 'La canzone del Piave' and the Italian and Czech national anthems by the military band of the Prague Garrison Command. The ceremony ended with the recitation of the "Soldier's Prayer" by the Carabiniere serving at the Italian Embassy, Vincenzo D'Alfonzo.

The numerous guests included a delegation of MPs from the Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group between the Czech Republic and Italy; the Director of Logistics of the Ministry of Defence, Major General Robert Bieleny; the Mayor of Milovice, Milan Pour; the representative of the Municipality of Conegliano, Councillor Matteo Zucol; the President of the A.R.Mi. - Milovice Military Association of Remembrance and member of the Board of the Union of Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic, Colonel Svetozár Plesník; the President of the Committee of Italians living abroad (COMITES) in the Czech Republic, Roberto Massa; a delegation of Alpine soldiers coordinated by the Belluno and Conegliano Sections, and the Bellunese Minimo Bellunese Choir. The celebrations ended with a guided tour of the city's military museum and a Holy Mass in the Church of St Catherine of Alexandria.