173rd paratroopers continue goodwill with Sammarinese community

Photo By Sgt. A.M. LaVey | Paratroopers from the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), seen here with American friend-of-the-brigade, Olimpio Guidi, were honored guests at the Republic of San Marino’s Independence Day celebrations held at the mountain-top capital city of San Marino, Sept. 3.  

SAN MARINO, SAN MARINO

09.03.2013

Story by Sgt. A.M. LaVey 

173rd Airborne Brigade

SAN MARINO—Paratroopers from the 173rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) were honored guests at the Republic of San Marino’s Independence Day celebrations held at the mountain-top capital city of San Marino, Sept. 3.

The paratroopers, from the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, were invited by the Sammarinese Association for San Marino-American Brotherhood, in the second of many future events designed to strengthen the relationship between the two republics.

It is important to foster relationships when serving abroad – both militarily and culturally, said Capt. Elliot L. Solomon, the assistant operations officer, 1st Bn. These “relationships are important because if provides a means of representing the United States and the Army to the local population [and to] key individuals within the community.”

The Republic of San Marino obtained its independence from the Roman Empire in the year 301 and resisted joining the modern Italian state during the many phases of unification, and is considered the world’s oldest republic.

By arrangement, like Vatican City - the other microstate within Italy - military defense of the republic is the responsibility of the Italian armed forces. Unlike Vatican City, however, San Marino maintains its own army - one of the smallest in the word - for both domestic and ceremonial uses.

“It was a great experience to see the traditions of San Marino,” said Spc. Leland Reich, a paratrooper with Company E, 1st Bn. “Their history is engraved in their culture and [I was surprised] how far back their traditions run.”

One of the central attractions of the Independence Day celebration is the military’s crossbow competition. Originally a major part of the republic’s defense force, the volunteer reservists of the crossbow corps now have a purely ceremonial role.

For the visiting paratroopers, it was much more than a show.

“I learned that the crossbow, more than anything else, is a very significant and culturally important item to the Sammarinese,” said Solomon. “They used fixed crossbow positions much the way we might emplace a heavy machine gun on a tripod in today’s military. These heavy duty crossbows were capable of firing about one kilometer and could pierce through two armored men.”

The relationship between the brigade paratroopers and the people of San Marino will continue, as airborne artillerymen have been invited to join the republic’s Fortress Guard Artillery Company, at the upcoming celebration in honor of Saint Barbara, the patron of the artillery, later this year.

• Date Taken: 09.03.2013
• Date Posted: 09.06.2013 03:38
• Story ID: 113184
• Location: SAN MARINO, SM