Photo By Sgt. Joaquin Vasquez-Duran | Entomogolists working for Directorate of Public Works, U.S. Army Italy Garrison, take...... read more read more
LONGARE, Italy – When a Soldier at Caserma Del Din reported a wasp nest clinging to a fence line, Davide Doná got the call and went to investigate. The Soldier was wrong. When the inspectors came to look, what they found was a queen bee forming a hive inside a chain linked fence. The entomologists from the Directorate of Public Works, under U.S. Army Italy Garrison, take the careful steps to preserve a colony of bees. They were successful in moving the bees from Caserma Del Din to Caserma Ederle.
Preserving beehives is typically not a U.S. Army mission – but in the Vicenza Military Community it’s an environmental obligation and a nod to community relations. Taking care of bee colonies is not only a conscious duty, it is a lawful order here in Italy.
Bees are vital to the environment, he said. “Mamma mia,” said Doná. “Einstein said ‘without bees, humans would only have four years of life left.’” At U.S. Army Garrison Italy, enduring relationships with local Italian communities takes many forms –from U.S. Soldiers taking part in local events, commemorating holidays and attending festivals to formal engagements with Italian leaders. And sometimes, it means helping bees.
Bees are incredibly sensitive to the environment and are the first indicators the environment is in decline. From fruits on trees, to a glass full of wine, bees’ pollination efforts make all these things possible. Missions like these remind us that collaboration beyond the gate strengthens not only ecosystems, but also trust, understanding, and unity across nations. The movement of bees is an opportunity to align American stewardship with Italian ecological values.
Nestled between honeycomb homes sculpted from wooden houses, bees receive their assignment. They take off under a sizzling summer sun. They fly through blooming fields full of wildflowers, fruit orchards, and more.
These little yellow soldiers, equipped with stingers and uniformed in matching colors, are as regimental as they are expressive. They receive their marching orders every morning. They gather in formation and perform a “waggle dance” which denotes the exact positioning for the bees’ movements.
The sun sets over the horizon. The bees return one by one to their hive, shade waiting patiently. The bees follow the growing audience of shadows, as they fall into each other, creating nightfall. A moment passes before the bees’ handlers, donning netted suits and wielding tranquil smoke, move swiftly under the moon’s light. The beekeepers have their own mission.
Making sure they survive isn’t enough – they need to thrive. The beekeepers’ responsibilities continue, and they must move the hive from Caserme Ederle, to Caserma Miotto. “They work all day, and rest during the night,” said Dona, “if we moved the hive during the day the bees would not be able to find the hive.”
Caserma Matteo Miotto, the new home for the 207th Military Intelligence Brigade, Theater, holds a strong connection to the local community in Longare.
“There is a parallel between our restoration of operations on Miotto and the habitat restoration and sustainability that bees offer. The 207 MIB-T’s presence at Miotto is simply using the space,” said Victorio T. Gutierrez, Safety and Occupational Health Manager for the 207th MIB – T, “we are actively participating in its revitalization – both physically and ecologically.”
The successful relocation of the bee hives from Ederle to Miotto represents more than just following seasonal patterns, it represents the 207th's presence on Miotto as well.
These resilient, yet delicate, creatures not only sustain ecosystems through pollination but also serve as vital indicators of ecological health. In safeguarding them, we protect the balance of nature itself, ensuring that the hum of life continues from petals to plates, one mission at a time.
| Date Taken: | 07.02.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 07.03.2025 03:28 |
| Story ID: | 502102 |
| Location: | VICENZA, IT |
| Web Views: | 60 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Little yellow soldiers – Why the U.S. Army is helping bees in Italy, by SGT Joaquin Vasquez-Duran, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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