It is with profound honor and pride, in my capacity as President of the Provincial Federation of Genoa and Ambassador of Genoa in the World, that I prepare to welcome the XXXII National Congress of the Institute of the ‘Nastro Azzurro’ to our city. This important event, which will be held on October 24th and 25th, 2025, represents not only a gathering for our members but also an opportunity to reaffirm the values that have guided our institution for over a century.
To fully grasp the significance of this occasion, we must take a step back in time. Our Institute was founded in Rome on March 26, 1923, by General Ettore Viola di Cà Tasson, one of the most brilliant military figures of the First World War, described by King Umberto II as “the most beautiful gold medal of the Great War.” Together with the decorated painter Maurizio Barricelli, he sought to create an association that would unite combatants Decorated for Military Valor, in memory of the establishment of the Medals by Charles Albert of Savoy. King Victor Emmanuel III, by establishing it as a Moral Entity in 1928 and granting it a heraldic emblem, intended to create a true Nobiliary Corps of Valor, a unique entity in the world.
Our Federation of Genoa, founded on April 15, 1923, is the seventh oldest in Italy and has always played a leading role in the life of the Institute. Among its Presidents, we count names that have shaped the history of our country: Admiral Umberto Cagni di Bu Meliana, a renowned explorer and senator; Marshal of Italy Count Ugo Cavallero, Chief of the General Staff; and Commander Luigi Ferraro, a Gold Medal of Military Valor recipient and a pioneer in the diving industry. The legendary Admiral Luigi Rizzo di Grado e di Premuda also served on our Board of Directors.
Today, the Institute continues to be a vibrant organization, with 82 Federations and nearly 4,000 members. Our commitment is not only to the past but also to the future. It is in this spirit that I have accepted the role of Special Commissioner for the new chapter of the ‘Nastro Azzurro’ in the United States of America, which will be based in Washington at the headquarters of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). I am grateful to NIAF for granting its patronage to our National Congress, a gesture that signifies a strong and forward-looking bond.
My connection to the Institute, however, is not just institutional but deeply personal. Several of my family members were decorated for Military Valor, and I hold dear the memory of my cousin, Lieutenant Carlo Slucca of the 317th “Acqui” Infantry Regiment. He was executed by German forces on September 25, 1943, during the tragically infamous Cephalonia Massacre. His memory, like that of all the fallen, is the flame that fuels our commitment to remember and to pass on the values of sacrifice and love for one’s country to future generations.
I therefore invite all citizens to join us in these days of commemoration and reflection.
Schedule of Events
- Friday, October 24th, 3:30 PM Laying of a laurel wreath at the War Memorial. Piazza della Vittoria, Genoa
- Friday, October 24th, 5:30 PM Presentation of the 2026 Blue Calendar. Metropolitan Council Hall, Palazzo Doria Spinola
- Saturday, October 25th, 9:00 AM XXXII National Congress of the Institute of the ‘Nastro Azzurro’. Hall of Representation, Palazzo Tursi
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