Italians, Americans celebrate ties, pay tribute during annual friendship festival

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. R.J. Biermann
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Hundreds of Italians and Americans came together for the 15th Annual Italian-American Friendship Festival in Spilimbergo, Italy, on Sept. 10.

The festival, which included a sports tournament, mosaic school tour, military vehicle and aircraft static displays, parade, and 9/11 memorial ceremony, was originally introduced to pay tribute to the lives lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

Firefighters from the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron raised the U.S. flag during a 9/11 memorial ceremony, joined in solemn reverence by Airmen and families from Aviano Air Base attending the observance.

The ceremony was part of the 15th Annual Italian-American Friendship Festival. This year marked the second consecutive year Spilimbergo hosted the festival.