U.S. and Italian service members, along with officials from Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central, the U.S. Consulate General in Naples, the British Embassy in Rome, and Naval Air Station Sigonella gathered at the 82nd Airborne Division Monument at Ponte Dirillo, in Gela, Italy, to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Operation Husky, July 10.

“It is an honor to stand before you and reflect on the tenacious spirit of those who fought here,” said Rear Adm. Brad Collins, commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Central. “Their courage is the foundation of the strength of the partnership our countries have cultivated over the past eight decades.” Operation Husky was a WWII campaign in which the Allied powers launched a massive amphibious assault on the shores of Sicily in order to regain the first remnants of European soil back from the Axis powers.