Santiago. President Luis Abinader led the events of the 178th anniversary of the battle of Santiago, which included a civic-military parade and a Tedeum at the Santiago Apóstol Cathedral.
The first activity began with the raising of the flag in Imbert Park and the president joined the Tedeum that began with the arrival of the Head of State, who received honors in style for his investiture, with a 21-gun salute and later , deposited a floral offering in the chapel of the immortals, in honor of the heroes of this deed.
At the religious ceremony, the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Santiago, Monsignor Freddy Antonio Bretón, thanked President Abinader for his presence at this celebration, which has great significance for present and future generations. During the homily, Monsignor Bretón affirmed that the country grows in the upright conduct of its citizens and that there is no greater work to honor someone who sacrificed himself to the point of giving his life, than to act with honesty.
He said that the sacrifice of men and women who dreamed of this country should not be left to fall into a void.
The priest called on the political class not to fall into arrogance and took the opportunity to call on Congress to approve a new criminal code that protects both children and mothers.
The acts
The acts on the occasion of the 178th anniversary of the Battle of March 30 were organized by the Permanent Commission of National Ephemeris and the provincial government. Leaving the Cathedral, President Luis Abinader led the civic-military parade, which took place on Las Carreras Avenue. This was the second battle after the war of independence of 1844, in which General José María Imbert commanded a part of the Army of the North and defeated General Jean-Louis Pierrot and his troops from the Haitian Army, still with a superior numerical ratio. in favor of him. Abinader was received with the presidential touch of attention, five flourishes, a 21-gun salute and the interpretation of the National Anthem, honors of style typical of his investiture. From the box and perimeter area, the parade was witnessed in which military troops from the Air Force, the Army and the Navy of the Republic participated, as well as the National Police, exhibiting vehicles, weapons and military equipment and the usual maneuvers. Air Force planes were seen flying over the area and the parade of hundreds of students and educational authorities from the public and private sectors displaying the tricolor flag in tribute to the heroes of the Battle.
Assessment
Prior to the parade, Governor Rosa Santos highlighted the courage, determination and patriotic unity of the Dominican troops against the Haitian invader on March 30, 1844 to consolidate independence and have a free, sovereign Republic. The president of the Permanent Commission of National Ephemeris, Juan Pablo Uribe, highlighted the work of the military not only during the patriotic deed but also today, playing a transcendental role in preventing the COVID-19 pandemic in our country. The President of the Senate and Senator Eduardo Estrella; the Administrative Ministers of the Presidency, José Ignacio Paliza; of Public Health, Daniel Rivera; of Housing, Carlos Bonilla.
There was a large presence of officials.
The acts were attended by the Defense Minister, Lieutenant General Carlos Luciano Díaz Morfa, and the General Director of the National Police, Major General Eduardo Alberto Then. In addition, the director of INESPRE, Iván Hernández; the general secretary of the Dominican Municipal League, Víctor de Aza; the president of Refidomsa, Leonardo Aguilera; the director of Proindustria, Ulises Rodríguez, among others.
