12 November, in Italy Day of Remembrance for Military and Civilian Fallen in International Peace Missions.
2024, 12 November, Tibor Albert, Vice President Western Europe International Association of UN Peacekeepers "Soldiers of Peace" (AISP-SPIA), Président Confédération Européenne des Anciens Combattants et Militaires Brabant (C.E.A.C.), Serhii Samoilov, Director of youth programs International Association of UN Peacekeepers "Soldiers of Peace" (AISP/SPIA), founder of International projects "School of Peace" and "Young peacemakers" took part in the solemn mass on the occasion of this , expressing their solidarity with their Italian colleagues. The mass took place in Brussels at the Сathédrale, Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon.
We convey words of solidarity and willingness to cooperate to our Italian colleague, Giacomo Salemma, representative of the Carabinieri leadership and our partner in the system International Association of UN Peacekeepers "Soldiers of Peace" (AISP/SPIA).
On this day of commemoration of the military and civilians who lost their lives in international peacekeeping missions, Italy pays tribute to the 19 Italians killed in the Nassiriya massacre, 21 years ago, on 12 November 2003. This terrible attack will remain forever etched in our memories.
On this poignant day of remembrance, we express our gratitude to all those who have sacrificed their lives in the exercise of their duties, as well as my thanks and those of the entire Italian government to the men and women of the armed forces who, serving even in the most difficult areas, work every day to build peace, with dedication, a deep sense of humanity and love for their homeland.
The mass brought together representatives of the Italian Carabinieri General Staff, the army and public circles. Belgium was represented in solidarity by participants from the International Association of UN Peacekeepers "Soldiers of Peace" (AISP-SPIA), Belgium unit, Confédération Européenne des Anciens Combattants et Militaires Brabant (C.E.A.C.).
The Carabinieri are engaged in several missions led by different International Organizations, such as NATO, EU, UN and other coalitions of willing. Their task vary from the area of peacekeeping to peace-building and reconstruction support in post-conflict contexts, with particular reference to the restructuring of local police. In most of the Peace Support Operations, carried out by Italy, the Carabinieri Corps implemented a specific model, tailoring its framework to the different given scenarios. up to 5,000 Carabinieri can be deployed overseas throughout a year.
The Carabinieri Corps was founded on July 13th, 1814. As an Armed Force, it reports, through the Chief of Defence, directly to the Ministry of Defence for its military tasks. It concurs, together with the other Armed Forces, to the integrated defence of the Italian Homeland and to the safeguard of the Italian institutions. It is the sole Military Police Force for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
As a Police Force, it reports to the Ministry of Interior for whatever concerns homeland public order and security and it has a nation-wide responsibility in enforcing Law and Order and in fighting all forms of crime. In accordance with the criminal procedural code, when dealing with investigations and judiciary tasks, the Carabinieri Corps works under the direction of the Judiciary Authority. Furthermore, in case of natural disasters, the Carabinieri Corps supports civilian agencies in relief and in public safety operations.
The Carabinieri General Headquarters, located in Rome, is the Central Organization, where the Carabinieri General Commander manages, coordinates and controls all the activities. The Corps is manned by about one hundred and ten-thousand (110,000) Carabinieri, allotted to the four remaining organizations, namely the Territorial, the Training, the Mobile and the Specialized one.
The Carabinieri are one of the national police forces of Italy. Originally an elite military organization of the Savoyard states, the corps became part of the Italian Armed Forces at the time of national unification (1861). For nearly 140 years, the Carabinieri were considered part of the army, but in 2000, the corps became an independent branch of the Italian Armed Forces. Members of the corps wear a variety of uniforms, ranging from military-style fatigues to a set resembling that of the civilian police force, to full Napoleonic insignia. Virtually all of these uniforms include a white shoulder strap, the presence of which indicates that an officer is on duty. The Carabinieri are housed in barracks and the corps has a variety of military functions: it polices the armed forces, guards military installations, enforces recruitment laws, and has specific military responsibilities in the event of war. In this capacity, it is responsible to the Minister of Defense. The Corps also acts as a civil police force, with responsibility for protecting public order and detecting crime. In these areas, its function overlaps with that of the State Police and, like the Guards, it is responsible to the Minister of the Interior.
Virgo Fidelis was proclaimed Patron Saint of the Carabinieri on 11 November 1949, the date of the promulgation of an Apostolic Brief by Pope Pius XII.
The anniversary was set for 21 November, the day on which the Presentation of the Virgin Mary and the Battle of Culqualber are commemorated.
The Military Ordinary, Archbishop Carlo Alberto Ferrero of Cavallerleone composes the "Prayer of the Carabinieri".
By Gianni Flamini
Ten. Massimiliano FICUCIELLO Luogotenente Enzo FREGOSI Mar. Aiutante Giovanni CAVALLARO Mar. Aiutante Alfonso TRINCONE Mar. Capo Alfio RAGAZZI Mar. Capo Massimiliano BRUNO Mar. Daniele GHIONE Mar. Filippo MERLINO Mar. Silvio OLLA Vice Brigadiere Giuseppe COLETTA Vice Brigadiere Ivan GHITTI Apuntato Domenico IN TRAVAIA Carabiniere Scelto Horatio MAIORANA Carabiniere Scelto Andrea FILIPPA Corporal Maggiore Emanuele FERRARO Caporale Alessandro CARRISI Corporale Pietro PETRUCCI Dottor Stefano ROLLA Signor Marco BECI PRESENTI.
Nassiryah
November 12, 2003
PER NON DIMENTICARE
About place.
Built in a Brabantine Gothic style very similar to that of the cathedral, Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon has been a place of pilgrimage since the Middle Ages.
Located in the upper part of the city, Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon is one of the most beautiful Gothic churches in Belgium. Built in the 15th century, it is a remarkable example of the Brabantine Gothic style, very similar to that of the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudula.
The cathedral was built on the site of an old chapel. It was built by the city's archers in 1304.
The interior of Notre-Dame
The interior of the church is sober, pleasant and resembles that of the cathedral, except for its size. One element that particularly attracts attention is the carved wooden pulpit from 1697.
The central nave is flooded with natural light thanks to its eleven 15-metre-high stained glass windows.
According to legend
A young girl from Antwerp had a vision in which the Virgin asked her to bring a statue of her to Brussels. She took a boat, and once she arrived in Brussels, she placed the statue of the Virgin in the Chapel of the Archers.
The chapel quickly became a place of pilgrimage
Over the centuries, the church received unwavering support from great historical families: the Habsburgs, the Tour and Tassis, the d’Arenbergs and many others. We can easily find the marks of their attachment to the church. The imperial family offered magnificent stained glass windows that were unfortunately destroyed by a tornado.
https://eurogendfor.org/arma-dei-carabinieri-full-member/
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Carabiniere
https://www.fondsamiseglisesablon.be
https://www.visitonsbruxelles.com/notre-dame-du-sablon
Copyright - Sofia Bondarenko, Assistant Director of youth programs International Association of UN Peacekeepers "Soldiers of Peace" (AISP/SPIA). With reference to the specified sources.