Italian Soldier Died in Poland in 1942; A Ceremony for His Burial

(ANSA) - VARSAVIA, 17 OTT - The Italian Ambassador to Poland, Luca Franchetti Pardo, participated yesterday, along with the Defense Attaché, Col. Sandro Iervolino, in the burial ceremony at the Italian Military Cemetery in Bielany, Warsaw, for Sergeant Biagio Avolio, who fell in 1942. Two of the soldier’s grandchildren were present at the ceremony. After a moment of prayer and the blessing, as well as the recitation of the Soldier’s Prayer, those present paid tribute to the memory of the soldier who fell during World War II and to the sacrifice of all those who lost their lives in the service of their country. In an atmosphere of solemn reflection and emotion, the casket was escorted to its final resting place. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the ambassador presented the family with the Italian tricolor that had draped the coffin, in a solemn and deeply meaningful gesture, symbolizing the bond that unites the country with its fallen heroes and preserves their memory.” Born in Naples on April 2, 1919, Sergeant Biagio Avolio served in the 2nd Company of the 156th Machine-Gun Battalion of the “Vicenza” Division. Killed in action on October 4, 1942, at the age of 23, his remains were found and identified in Poland following a lengthy search conducted by his family in close collaboration with Italian authorities, making today’s burial possible. “At last you have a place to honor the memory of your uncle; at last he can rest on Italian soil alongside so many of his fellow soldiers,” said the ambassador. Franchetti Pardo then concluded by emphasizing: “The Italian Embassy and our institutions remain committed to the search for all the fallen soldiers still missing in Poland.”
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