Dec 3 2024

JFC Naples Celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Tree Lighting Ceremony

LAGO PATRIA, Italy – On Tuesday 3rd December 2024, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (JFC Naples) hosted the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at its headquarters in Via Madonna del Pantano, Lago Patria, Naples. The event began at 4:45pm with the exceptional music performance of students from the Middle Schools Don Salvatore Vitale and G.B. Basile located in Giugliano in Campania, Naples. Admiral Stuart B. Munsch, JFC Naples Commander, delivered his welcome remarks and with the help of the children officially lit the tree. The event continued with a musical performance by the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band and the Christmas Market exhibition in Parco Leonardo.

“We are honored to welcome back Signore Carlo Calcagni, who helped build our first headquarters in Bagnoli and joined us for the first official holiday tree lighting in NATO in 1954” Admiral Munsch said “While he has long retired, his son, Maurizio, is one of the many representatives of the Naples community working inside of this headquarters. The history of the holiday tree lighting ceremony serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring spirit of unity and hope across generations and across our broad community”.

“Our Alliance is more than just a collection of nations and their armed forces. We are NATO - all of us are. Each citizen, in the 32 nations who make up our Alliance, is a part of NATO’s broader community. Together, we are more than the sum of our parts. That's whywe started this holiday tradition 70 years ago – to celebrate our unity and hope”.

Today’s ceremony concludes the cycle of events dedicated to the celebration of the 75th anniversary of NATO. Mr. Nicola Pirozzi, the Mayor of Giugliano, attended the ceremony.

“I am very happy that also this year we have seen the participation to this event of our students from the middle schools Don Salvatore Vitale and G.B. Basile, playing with the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band on the occasion of the traditional JFC Naples Tree Lighting Ceremony” said Mr. Pirozzi, Mayor of Giugliano “After the magic event of last year when our children and the U.S. Naval Forces Europe Band played in Vatican in the presence of the Holy Father, the Pope, today’s event is becoming a tradition that gives an important opportunity to our children and to our communities to meet together in a magical event. I thank Admiral Munsch, Commander of JFC Naples and his team, always available and friendly in welcoming us and I wish a Merry Christmas to all the citizens of the base”.

JFC Naples has maintained an important connection with the local community in the Campania Region through the years, and has operated out of Bagnoli, Naples as well as its current location in Lago Patria. NATO is the world’s most successful Alliance. Throughout its success over the last 75 years, Italy and in particular Naples has played a significant role. From maintaining the sea lines of communication in the Mediterranean during the Cold War, to involvement in the Western Balkans in the 1990s.