JFC Naples Celebrates 70th Anniversary of NATO

The youngest military member of Joint Forces Command Naples,  an American 18-year-old sailor (left) and JFC Naples Command Senior Enlisted Advisor German Army Sergeant Major Juergen Stark (right) listen as Joint Forces Command Naples military members and civilians gathered in the organization’s headquarters to celebrate 70 years of the transatlantic Alliance April 4. (Photo by DEU-AF (OR-8) Master Sgt. Florian Fergen,  JFC Naples Public Affairs)

LAGO PATRIA, Italy - Joint Forces Command Naples military members and civilians gathered in the organization’s headquarters to celebrate 70 years of the transatlantic Alliance April 4.

"Ours is the strongest alliance in the history of civilization,” said JFC Commander Admiral James Foggo. "This is our shared heritage of which we can all be proud.”

The command’s members filled the room as the youngest military member of the command, an American 18-year-old sailor, rang a ceremonial bell to mark the occasion.

"We’re not just working with 29 nations within NATO, as we also have 41 partner nations in our Partnership for Peace Program with whom we’re working closely,” said JFC Naples Command Senior Enlisted Advisor German Army Sergeant Major Juergen Stark. "We work as one team, we respect each other, and we respect different cultures and opinions because we are stronger together - we are NATO.”

In Washington DC, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hailed the Treaty, saying: "its reach is vast, and it has stood the test of time – because we have united around our core commitment to protect and defend one another.”

Story by JFC Naples Public Affairs Office