The Argentine Automobile Club pays tribute to Malvinas veterans on National Sovereignty Day

In it framework of National Sovereignty Daythe Argentine Automobile Club (ACA) organized a tribute to the veterans of the Malvinas War. In total, more than 45 ex-combatants belonging to the three Armed Forces who participated in the fighting that began on April 2, 1982.

Present at the event were Guillermo MaderoUndersecretary of Strategic Planning and Military Policy of the Ministry of Defense of the Nation; the Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Brigadier General Xavier Julián Isaac; the colonel Santiago Augusto Picónrepresenting the Army; he Brigadier Fernando Patricio Valentichdeputy director of the General Directorate of Materials of the Air Force; and Rear Admiral Fernando Terribilerepresenting the Navy.

The ACA event in honor of the Malvinas combatants

With approximately fifty ex-combatants, the event took place at the ACA headquarters, located in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Palermo. There, six veterans of the Malvinas War shared their experience and legacy to an audience that included the highest authorities of the ACA, Club workers, members and relatives of the speakers; also participated Military Band of the 1 Patricios Infantry Regiment, adding music to the occasion.

Horacio Mir González and José Pascual, both from the Air Forcethanked the tribute and indicated that during the War, beyond the final result of the conflict, they had a union and unbreakable commitment: “That gave us strength to continue.“, they stated.

For their part, Sergio Bazán and Waldemar Aquino, Navy ship captains, recalled some moments experienced during those days in the Malvinas. “The true heroes are the dead that we had in our strength”, they claimed.

The last speakers were Héctor Tesey and Daniel Enrique González Deibe, from the Army, who assured that the Malvinas Islands are Argentine: “Every Argentine must know why the islands belong to us,” they stated.

The tribute was an initiative of the president of the ACA, César Carman, who proposed to the Board of Directors of the institution to carry out the event to be incorporated into the official calendar of patriotic celebrations to be held at the Club. The proposal is that starting next year This event is replicated in different parts of the country where Veterans of the Malvinas War are located.

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More than 45 ex-combatants, from the three Armed Forces, were present at the event.

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In his role as host, Carman stated that for the Argentine Automobile Club – which was fundamental in logistical support to the war effort during the Conflict – honoring Veterans is a duty: “It is imposed on us by the generous blood shed by our heroes. . They have lived up to the example that the illustrious men of our history bequeathed to us.”, he stated.

“Words are not enough to express our gratitude.. Our house has and will always have its doors open to all those who fought for the Islands. They are our heroes for their qualities, their exploits and their bravery,” Carman added.

Finally, Carman highlighted the bravery of the ex-combatants who were willing to give their lives in service of the country. They did it for their country, for their family and for their God. “Go to them, from this Argentine Automobile Club and as its president, my recognition, my gratitude and my applause,” he concluded.

What is commemorated on National Sovereignty Day?

Each November 20 is celebrated in the Argentine Republic as the Day of National Sovereigntyin honor of the patriotic feat devised by Juan Manuel de Rosas and led by Lucio Norberto Mansillain the year 1845. By then, both France and England did not recognize the authority of Rosas in the territory’s foreign trade and wanted to enter the rivers to trade with the provinces opposed to the regime.

In this way, the need to assert their right to regulate the navigation of the rivers, and the advance of the English and French vessels, on the morning of November 20, when the invaders advanced along the Paraná River, the Argentine forces organized in the bend of the river known as “Return of obligation”near San Pedro.

The confrontation was extremely unequal, the invading fleet had 22 warships and 92 merchant ships, with 418 cannons and 880 soldiers. Argentina had only six merchant ships, a brig and 60 small caliber cannons. But the leaders didn’t care.

Despite having faced England and France, in clear conditions of naval and economic inferiorityto one of the most imposing fleets in the entire world, and still emerge victorious, despite the number of casualties. And finally, European countries recognized Argentine sovereignty over its waters.