For the first time a Sicilian member of the Guardia di Finanza was awarded with the Medal of Honour by the German Army. The name of the soldier is Giuseppe Leto, who works at the Guardia di Finanza of Rome. The ceremony took place last 26 of May at the Pratica di Mare airport, near Rome.
Leto, who was born in 1971 in Germany, but from Sicilian parents (Santo Stefano Quisquina, near Agrigento), is a German translator of the Guardia di Finanza and together with other soldiers has been dealing, in the last couple of years, with the organization of the German Army for the Italian Republic Day which is celebrated every 2nd of June.
Here is the motivation for the awarded Leto and another two soldiers: “They worry about the welcoming, transport and accommodation of the German soldiers and their equipment, (…) with cordiality and naturalness, even if they have to work long hours. They are flexible partners always ready to satisfy the needs of German soldiers and they give their contribution to the German parade during the Italian Republic Day”.
The award is also a recognition of the professional excellence of the Guardia Di Finanza: soldiers expert in foreign languages, who work on an international level, just like Giuseppe Leto.
Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute
