Valentino Cococcia celebrates 100th birthday after long Guardia di Finanza career

The Guardia di Finanza of Pescara recently celebrated the 100th birthday of retired Major Assistant Valentino Cococcia in San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore. Born on October 19, 1926, Cococcia joined the Guardia di Finanza in June 1947, shortly after the end of World War II.

His long career included training at the Alpine School in Predazzo and service with the Genoa Legion. In 1966, he commanded the Pigna Brigade in the province of Imperia near the French border before returning to the Abruzzo region, serving various units in the province of Chieti until his retirement in July 1986. In 2008, he was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

The celebration was attended by family, local officials including Mayor Antonio D’Angelo, and community members. Pescara Provincial Commander Bartolomeo Scalabrino delivered greetings from Abruzzo Regional Commander Fabio Massimo Mendella and the entire Guardia di Finanza force. A message from the Chief of Staff of the Guardia di Finanza, General Giuseppe Arbore, was also read to honor Cococcia’s life of service to the nation.