DVIDS – News – Sky Troopers march to donate toys in native Italian communities

VICENZA, Italy – Greater than 30 paratroopers or “Sky Troopers” from the 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB), 173rd Airborne Brigade loaded 140 toys of their ruck sacks and marched to their partnered cities of Camisano Vicentino and Quinto Vicentino on Dec. 15, bringing some vacation cheer and Sky Soldier tradition to their communities.

Airborne models throughout the U.S. Army yearly maintain an occasion often called “Toy Drop” across the vacation season, which usually consists of paratroopers donating toys to a group or an orphanage. Some models trade the toy for an opportunity to earn overseas parachusist wings.

U.S Army Garrison Italy is presently fielding a Neighborhood Alliance Program (CAP) to have interaction with the Italian communities to extend consciousness and appreciation for the encompassing areas, promote the U.S. Navy’s mission in a constructive method, and foster a robust relationship and sense of widespread objective throughout the surrounding areas.

Because the airborne engineers marched into the cities, ruck sacks crammed with gift-wrapped toys, they had been greeted by the native Italian residents, all with their cell telephones out and making movies of their loud and proud marching cadences. They filed into the city halls and stuffed tables with toys.

Whereas the Sky Troopers delivered presents, Mayor Renzo Marangon of Camisano and Deputy Mayor Pierfranco Sette of Quinto each took time to precise their appreciation for the unit’s continued outreach and categorical their need for extra occasions like these between the Italy-based airborne engineer unit and their respective communities.

As a part of the continual CAP efforts within the Vicenza Navy Neighborhood, every battalion within the 173rd Airborne Brigade is partnered with at the very least one native Italian group. The 173rd’s two models stationed in Germany are additionally partnered with German communities. Each battalion command group coordinates engagements with their corresponding native leaders to be inclusive of one another’s tradition and occasions.

The group relations specialist for USAG Italy, Anna Chicotti, usually helps coordinate occasions between Vicenza models and their communities. She has been working with the 54th BEB for years.

“The bond of friendship between the 54th BEB and their partnered cities has been the instance of what a real partnership ought to seem like,” Anna stated. “Commander after commander, there’s all the time a robust willingness to proceed to additional the connection.”

The ‘motion officer’ who pieced the occasion collectively from a easy need to be good neighbors was Chaplain (Capt.) Vernon Snyder, the 54th BEB Chaplain.

“I believe its so essential to have the ability to give generously,” Snyder stated.

“What I needed to do was be sure that we solidified the partnership between our unit and our host nation associate communities. We needed to shake palms and we needed to see our buddies head to head. We needed our paratroopers to get out into the group and make these friendships. It makes a stronger partnership and a stronger Europe.”

The 173rd Airborne Brigade is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Pressure in Europe, offering quickly deployable forces to the USA European, Africa and Central Command areas of duty. Ahead deployed throughout Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and companions to construct partnerships and strengthen the alliance.