The naming ceremony of the Carabinieri barracks of the Messina Archbishopric station took place today in Piazza Cairoli in Messina. Ordinary Marshal Francesco Bonanno, decorated with the Silver Medal for Military Valor “Alla Memoria”.
The ceremony, organized by the Carabinieri Provincial Command of Messina in agreement with the Municipal Administration, took place in the presence of the Interregional Carabinieri Commander “Culqualber”, Army Corps General Giovanni Truglioas the highest military office and top authority of the Carabinieri, accompanied by Commander of the Carabinieri Legion “Sicily”General of Division Giuseppe Spina, as well as the Prefect Cosima Di Stani, the Metropolitan Mayor Federico Basile, and the other civil, military and religious authorities of the province.
Representatives of the companies also took part in the event with their respective Labari Combat and Arms Associations of the province, as well as of the National Carabinieri Association, custodian of the memory and military traditions that inspire the force, testifying to the inseparable relationship that binds it to the territory and the institutions.
At the important event, his daughter was present godmother of the ceremony as well as the wife of the soldier after whom the Barracks was named, the Ordinary Marshal MAVM Francesco Bonanno, who joined the Army in 1953 and fell into service on 17 July 1974, at the age of 40, when he held the position of Commander of the Santo Stefano Medio station, during a firefight with a criminal in the Messina hamlet of Mili San Pietro.
During the ceremony, in the square in front of the Carabinieri Station of Messina Arcivescovado, an Honor Unit was deployed, made up of the Fanfare of the 12th Carabinieri Regiment “Sicilia”, a Carabinieri Guard of Honor in Great Special Uniformwith the traditional lamp with plume and a Platoon of Station Commanders, an essential garrison of the Army present throughout the province and throughout the national territory.
The Banner of the Municipality of Messina, decorated with the Gold Medal for Military and Civil Valour, and that of the Metropolitan City, will also participate. Among the solemn phases that marked the ceremony, of particular significance was the moment in which the Mayor of Messina Federico Basile donated the National Flag to the Carabinieri Station which, after the blessing given by Don Rosario ScibiliaMilitary Chaplain of the Carabinieri of Eastern Sicily, was handed over to the Commander of the Station Lieutenant CS Gaetano Ilacqua who hoisted it during the flag-raising ceremony. Subsequently, the plaque in honor of the MAVM Ordinary Marshal Francesco Bonanno was unveiled by the daughter of the decorated soldier, accompanied by the authorities of the Carabinieri, the Prefect Cosima Di Stani and the Mayor.
The motivation with which the honor was granted, engraved on the commemorative plaque, was then read:
“Detached Station Commander, during an operation aimed at capturing a dangerous wanted man who had barricaded himself in his house and was threatening to kill his wife, broke down the door to allow the officer next to him to throw a tear gas canister inside. Finding himself facing the prisoner in the act of firing a hunting rifle, he pushed his superior aside to protect his safety, and was fatally shot. Luminous example of chosen virtues and generous altruism.”
