In Matino the funeral of the soldier who died in the accident: the tricolor on the coffin

There coffin wrapped in tricolor for the last farewell to Riccardo LatinoThe pilot from themilitary aviation, died in the tragic road accident last Wednesday on the Pollino provincial road Grosseto. Also on the coffin are the sword, the banners and the aviator hat, symbols of the professional goal that the 25-year-old had achieved with great commitment and passion. Military chaplain Don Fabio Villani celebrated the funeral in the afternoon inside the church of the Sacred Heart of Matino, full of colleagues, friends and relatives tearfully close to the boy’s family.

The homily of the military chaplain

In the homily the priest wanted to start from life memories and his bond with the Latino family and with Marcello, Riccardo’s father, also an air force soldier serving at Galatina airport. «Three years ago – said the chaplain, turning to mother Simonetta – I was talking to Marcello about your family and he told me about your children. And when he told me about Riccardo, a soldier like him and a pilot, his words were one with his gestures and looks: body and face transmitted in sync the joy of a father who is proud of this son he loves so much. This image remained imprinted in my mind – added the priest – and two years ago in Lecce, during the delivery ceremony of the turreted eagles, I saw that father again with the same feelings that had been confided to me the previous time”.

Afterwards, still addressing the family sitting in the front row, Don Fabio Villani added. «How can we accept Riccardo’s no longer physical presence but in a different way in our lives. The answer comes from the anniversary of the “Heart of Jesus”, a symbol of intimate union with God. Now Riccardo is in the hands of the Father of all: God who gave us life, constitutes this life in eternity. Riccardo, with his soul and essence, continues to exist with God and one day we will all be together with him.” Hence the message of hope. «Tragedy perhaps doesn’t allow us to overcome pain. Anyone who has experienced bereavement – continued the chaplain, also mentioning his family history – asks many questions in search of answers, but God is our destiny and hope. We must believe against the visible, because visibly Riccardo is no longer with us, but he continues to exist together with all the people we love. We believe to overcome the pain and be stronger.” Pain for the tragic death of the soldier who overwhelmed the community of Matino, in mourning, who expressed their condolences through the mayor Giorgio Toma. «In this space we would like to find a place where we can find comfort – wrote Toma – and to help father Marcello, mother Simonetta, Francesca, Lorenzo, Giulia, grandmother Lina and all those who have loved and will love forever find comfort. the boy. Riccardo loved flying in the immensity of the sky. Now that we have reached Paradise, he will watch over all of us, welcomed into the Heart of Jesus.” The body of the 25-year-old soldier returned home on Thursday evening, on a military flight authorized by the magistrate on duty who is coordinating the investigation into the fatal accident. Antonio Guglielmucci, originally from Matera, also died in the accident between two cars in Tuscany, not far from the military airport. Both soldiers were on duty at the 36th Wing of Gioia del Colle and were in Maremma to carry out training courses together with four other colleagues, including the two from Salento (the 28-year-old FN from Copertino and the 35-year-old MF from Galatone), were injured in the clash and hospitalized with a reserved prognosis in the hospitals of Siena and Grosseto.

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