{"id":25620,"date":"2023-08-31T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=25620"},"modified":"2023-09-01T06:41:31","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T06:41:31","slug":"us-soldiers-and-alpini-team-up-for-annual-cleanup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/?p=25620","title":{"rendered":"US Soldiers and Alpini team up for annual cleanup"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"editor-image photo-slideshow\">\n<figure class=\"photo cur-photo\">\n          <span class=\"centered-image\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"img-container\"><br \/>\n              <a class=\"rich-text-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/3586f4bf\/original.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><\/p>\n<p>              <\/a><br \/>\n                              <span class=\"ss-move ss-prev\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"ss-move-button\"><\/span><br \/>\n                <\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"ss-move ss-next\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"ss-move-button\"><\/span><br \/>\n                <\/span><br \/>\n                          <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/span><figcaption>\n                          <span class=\"image-count\">1 \/ 4<\/span><br \/>\n              <span class=\"image-caption-button\"><br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-button-text caption-button-hide\">Show Caption +<\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-button-text caption-button-show\">Hide Caption \u2013<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n                        <span class=\"image-caption\"><br \/>\n              <span class=\"caption-text\"><br \/>\n                VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Volunteers of the Alpini groups of Vicenza, the Order of Malta alongside the American Soldiers and their family members clean the leaves from the porticoes, and also armed with brooms, mops and poles remove cobwebs from arches and columns during the cleanup of the arcades and the area leading up to the Basilica of Monte Berico Aug. 26, 2023. The annual event is part of an ongoing partnership to prepare the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.<br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-author\"> (Photo Credit: Laura Kreider)<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/3586f4bf\/original.jpg\" title=\"View original\" target=\"_blank\">VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a><br \/>\n            <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"photo\">\n          <span class=\"centered-image\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"img-container\"><br \/>\n              <a class=\"rich-text-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/d270f9e7\/original.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Volunteers of the Alpini groups of Vicenza, the Order of Malta alongside the American Soldiers and their family members get ready for the cleanup of the arcades and the area leading up to the Basilica of Monte Berico Aug. 26, 2023. The annual event is part of an ongoing partnership to prepare the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.\" src=\"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/size0-full-392.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n              <\/a><br \/>\n                              <span class=\"ss-move ss-prev\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"ss-move-button\"><\/span><br \/>\n                <\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"ss-move ss-next\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"ss-move-button\"><\/span><br \/>\n                <\/span><br \/>\n                          <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/span><figcaption>\n                          <span class=\"image-count\">2 \/ 4<\/span><br \/>\n              <span class=\"image-caption-button\"><br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-button-text caption-button-hide\">Show Caption +<\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-button-text caption-button-show\">Hide Caption \u2013<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n                        <span class=\"image-caption\"><br \/>\n              <span class=\"caption-text\"><br \/>\n                VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Volunteers of the Alpini groups of Vicenza, the Order of Malta alongside the American Soldiers and their family members get ready for the cleanup of the arcades and the area leading up to the Basilica of Monte Berico Aug. 26, 2023. The annual event is part of an ongoing partnership to prepare the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.<br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-author\"> (Photo Credit: Laura Kreider)<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/d270f9e7\/original.jpg\" title=\"View original\" target=\"_blank\">VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a><br \/>\n            <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"photo\">\n          <span class=\"centered-image\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"img-container\"><br \/>\n              <a class=\"rich-text-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/85281cbc\/original.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"US Soldiers and Alpini team up for annual Monte Berico cleanup\" src=\"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/size0-full-393.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n              <\/a><br \/>\n                              <span class=\"ss-move ss-prev\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"ss-move-button\"><\/span><br \/>\n                <\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"ss-move ss-next\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"ss-move-button\"><\/span><br \/>\n                <\/span><br \/>\n                          <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/span><figcaption>\n                          <span class=\"image-count\">3 \/ 4<\/span><br \/>\n              <span class=\"image-caption-button\"><br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-button-text caption-button-hide\">Show Caption +<\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-button-text caption-button-show\">Hide Caption \u2013<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n                        <span class=\"image-caption\"><br \/>\n              <span class=\"caption-text\"><br \/>\n                VICENZA, Italy \u2013 A mixed group of Soldiers from the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) along with military leaders and family members from the Vicenza military community, members of the Alpini groups of Vicenza and the Order of Malta take part in the annual cleanup Aug. 26, 2023, to ready the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.<br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-author\"> (Photo Credit: Laura Kreider)<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/85281cbc\/original.jpg\" title=\"View original\" target=\"_blank\">VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a><br \/>\n            <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"photo\">\n          <span class=\"centered-image\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"img-container\"><br \/>\n              <a class=\"rich-text-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/82927e19\/original.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Volunteers of the Alpini groups of Vicenza, the Order of Malta alongside the American Soldiers and their family members clean the leaves from the porticoes, and also armed with brooms, mops and poles remove cobwebs from arches and columns during the cleanup of the arcades and the area leading up to the Basilica of Monte Berico Aug. 26, 2023. The annual event is part of an ongoing partnership to prepare the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.\" src=\"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/size0-full-394.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n              <\/a><br \/>\n                              <span class=\"ss-move ss-prev\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"ss-move-button\"><\/span><br \/>\n                <\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"ss-move ss-next\"><br \/>\n                  <span class=\"ss-move-button\"><\/span><br \/>\n                <\/span><br \/>\n                          <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/span><figcaption>\n                          <span class=\"image-count\">4 \/ 4<\/span><br \/>\n              <span class=\"image-caption-button\"><br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-button-text caption-button-hide\">Show Caption +<\/span><br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-button-text caption-button-show\">Hide Caption \u2013<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n                        <span class=\"image-caption\"><br \/>\n              <span class=\"caption-text\"><br \/>\n                VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Volunteers of the Alpini groups of Vicenza, the Order of Malta alongside the American Soldiers and their family members clean the leaves from the porticoes, and also armed with brooms, mops and poles remove cobwebs from arches and columns during the cleanup of the arcades and the area leading up to the Basilica of Monte Berico Aug. 26, 2023. The annual event is part of an ongoing partnership to prepare the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.<br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-author\"> (Photo Credit: Laura Kreider)<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/82927e19\/original.jpg\" title=\"View original\" target=\"_blank\">VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a><br \/>\n            <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>VICENZA, Italy \u2013 For the fifth consecutive year, U.S. Soldiers teamed up with local associations for a cleanup of the Monte Berico arcades and the area leading up to the Santuario della Madonna di Monte Berico, one of the most visited landmarks in town.<\/p>\n<p>Starting in early morning of Aug. 26, nearly 40 volunteers from the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) along with military leaders and family members from the Vicenza military community took part in the annual event with members of the Alpini groups of Vicenza and the Order of Malta to ready the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMonte Berico is a very special place to the military community here in Vicenza,\u201d said Lt. Col. Corbett Baxter, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, who volunteered at the event.<\/p>\n<p>Baxter said that Soldiers regularly use the steps of Monte Berico to stay in shape.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt is definitely a place that, if you spent any time in Vicenza as a Soldier, you\u2019ll remember, and so we are really happy to be here. We love to participate in these events, give our time and to be good partners with our Alpini brothers and with the community of Vicenza,\u201d Baxter continued.<\/p>\n<div class=\"editor-image single\">\n<figure class=\"photo cur-photo\">\n          <span class=\"centered-image\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"img-container\"><br \/>\n              <a class=\"rich-text-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/742937d7\/original.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"US Soldiers and Alpini team up for annual Monte Berico cleanup\" src=\"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/size0-full-395.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n              <\/a><br \/>\n                          <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/span><figcaption>\n                        <span class=\"image-caption\"><br \/>\n              <span class=\"caption-text\"><br \/>\n                VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Approximately 60 volunteers, a mixed group of Soldiers from the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) along with military leaders and family members from the Vicenza military community, members of the Alpini groups of Vicenza and the Order of Malta pose for a picture in the area across from the Basilica of Monte Berico Aug. 26, 2023, before the annual cleanup to ready the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.<br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-author\"> (Photo Credit: Photo credit: Laura Kreider)<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/742937d7\/original.jpg\" title=\"View original\" target=\"_blank\">VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a><br \/>\n            <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Roberto Tovo, group leader and Alpini sectional councilor of Monte Berico explained that for 20 years the Alpini have been cleaning the area before the holiday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn Vicenza we are 12 groups and every year we rotate members of three Alpini groups. Since 2018, there has been collaboration with the Soldiers, but this year in particular is significant because, in addition to having more volunteers, it was nice to see they were also accompanied by their families,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Tovo also highlighted the presence of the SETAF-AF commander, the highest authority who showed a connection between the two communities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe people of Vicenza always make us feel welcome, and occasions like that of today is a good opportunity to help and work side by side with the Alpini, who are always ready to help,\u201d said SETAF-AF Commanding General Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt allows us to strengthen our relationships and our genuine friendship.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"editor-image single\">\n<figure class=\"photo cur-photo\">\n          <span class=\"centered-image\"><br \/>\n            <span class=\"img-container\"><br \/>\n              <a class=\"rich-text-img-link\" href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/a20f1a41\/original.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Volunteers of the Alpini groups of Vicenza, the Order of Malta alongside the American Soldiers and their family members clean the leaves from the porticoes, and also armed with brooms, mops and poles remove cobwebs from arches and columns during the cleanup of the arcades and the area leading up to the Basilica of Monte Berico Aug. 26, 2023. The annual event is part of an ongoing partnership to prepare the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.\" src=\"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/size0-full-396.jpg\" \/><br \/>\n              <\/a><br \/>\n                          <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/span><figcaption>\n                        <span class=\"image-caption\"><br \/>\n              <span class=\"caption-text\"><br \/>\n                VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Volunteers of the Alpini groups of Vicenza, the Order of Malta alongside the American Soldiers and their family members clean the leaves from the porticoes, and also armed with brooms, mops and poles remove cobwebs from arches and columns during the cleanup of the arcades and the area leading up to the Basilica of Monte Berico Aug. 26, 2023. The annual event is part of an ongoing partnership to prepare the site for the upcoming festivities of the patron saint \u201cVirgin Mary of Monte Berico\u201d and the arrival of thousands of pilgrims from all over the region on Sept. 8.<br \/>\n                <span class=\"caption-author\"> (Photo Credit: Laura Kreider)<\/span><br \/>\n              <\/span><br \/>\n              <a href=\"https:\/\/api.army.mil\/e2\/c\/images\/2023\/08\/31\/a20f1a41\/original.jpg\" title=\"View original\" target=\"_blank\">VIEW ORIGINAL<\/a><br \/>\n            <\/span><br \/>\n          <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>During a break, Vicenza Mayor Giacomo Possamai joined the volunteers at the site and thanked them for their efforts and partnership.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAgain, this year they are giving us this important voluntary activity. It is a precious intervention that prepares the path to the sanctuary of Monte Berico for the passage of the many pilgrims and tourists expected during the days of our local Festa dei Oto,\u201d Possamai said.<\/p>\n<p>To view other photos of the event visit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usagvicenza\/albums\/72177720310759479\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/usagvicenza\/albums\/72177720310759479<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/usg01.safelinks.protection.office365.us\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fyoutube.com%2Fshorts%2F9esPuJyiqNM&amp;data=05%7C01%7Claurettamaria.kreider.ln%40army.mil%7C1ecfd47e730e41a16a3d08dbaa3cf693%7Cfae6d70f954b481192b60530d6f84c43%7C0%7C0%7C638290951076949426%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2BYInL75AIFHiexaCqXAFZ79ly913cI%2FHmsKq2ZO%2Fg0k%3D&amp;reserved=0\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/youtube.com\/shorts\/9esPuJyiqNM<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1 \/ 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption \u2013 VICENZA, Italy \u2013 Volunteers of the Alpini groups of Vicenza, the Order of Malta alongside the American Soldiers and their family members clean the leaves from the porticoes, and also armed with brooms, mops and poles remove cobwebs from arches and columns during the cleanup of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25622,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=25620"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25629,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25620\/revisions\/25629"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/25622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=25620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=25620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adn.monetizemail.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=25620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}