U.S. Army Soldiers join Sovizzo for “Puliamo il Mondo” cleanup

SOVIZZO, Italy - On Saturday, Soldiers from Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 57th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, joined local scouts, Alpini volunteers and Sovizzo residents for a town-wide cleanup.

Capt. Joseph Harvey mobilized a group of ten American service members and family members to participate with local townspeople. Together, the team helped clean playgrounds, streets, squares, and the area surrounding the town hall. Community outreach events like this strengthen the friendship between the U.S. Army and local residents.

The Sept. 20 event was part of the "Puliamo il Mondo" ("Let's Clean the World") campaign, which saw towns across Italy unite for environmental stewardship. During the event, Harvey had the chance to meet Mayor Matteo Forlin, who expressed his gratitude

"It is beautiful to see so many Americans out here today to help keep our town clean," Forlin said.

The weekend cleanup marked the Caserma Del Din-based unit's first community outreach event in Sovizzo, their partner town, since the unit arrived in Vicenza in late-2023. Sovizzo is just a few miles west of Vicenza. The Soldier-led initiative is part of U.S. Army Garrison Italy's Community Alliance Program, which partners local U.S. Army units with Italian towns to foster friendship, cooperation, and mutual support through shared activities and civic engagement.

This collaboration reflects the strong bond between Charlie Battery Soldiers and Sovizzo residents and sets the stage for future joint efforts in service and friendship. To learn more about Sovizzo, visit our Cultural Connections Page.