Italian Government
212th Anniversary of the Founding of the Carabinieri
Today in Reggio Calabria, in the presence of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, a ceremony was held to mark the 212th anniversary of the founding of the Carabinieri, featuring the swearing-in of the 144th training class of active-duty Carabinieri and the presentation of their epaulets.
The celebration was attended, among others, by the Undersecretary of State for Defense, Senator Isabella Rauti; the Chief of the Defense Staff, General Luciano Portolano; the Commander General of the Carabinieri Corps, General Salvatore Luongo; and civil, military, and religious authorities.
Also present were the Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantedosi; the Minister of Labor and Social Policies, Marina Elvira Calderone; and the Minister of Public Administration, Paolo Zangrillo.
Prior to the oath-taking ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Gianfranco Paglia, representative of the Group of Gold Medals for Military Valor (M.O.V.M.), delivered a speech.
During the ceremony, honors were awarded, including the Gold Medal for Military Valor posthumously to Marshal Carlo Legrottaglie, who was shot and killed on June 12, 2025, between Francavilla Fontana and Grottaglie while pursuing a gang of robbers.
“For over two centuries, the Carabinieri have been a constant and reassuring presence in Italy’s history, a symbol of a state that stands by its citizens and an integral part of the country’s very identity. On the 212th anniversary of the founding of the Carabinieri, best wishes to an institution that has always been a pillar of national security, as well as a guardian of stability, the rule of law, and social cohesion.”. So said Minister Guido Crosetto.
