2009 Chilean Military Parade
| 2009 Chilean Military Parade | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 September 2009 |
| Venue | O'Higgins Park |
| Locations | Santiago, Chile |
| Country | Chile |
| Participants | 11,064 military and police personnel |
The 2009 Chilean Military Parade was held at O'Higgins Park in Santiago on 19 September 2009 to commemorate the Day of the Glories of the Army. Presided over by President Michelle Bachelet, it was the last military parade of her first presidential term and involved 11,064 personnel from the Chilean Armed Forces and Carabineros de Chile.[1][2]
The parade was characterized by an extensive aerial display involving 138 aircraft and helicopters from the Air Force, Army, Navy and Carabineros, described by the Chilean Air Force as the largest aerial deployment in the history of the event up to that time. The formation included 21 F-16 fighters, C-130 Hercules transports and the «Halcones» aerobatic team, together with the French Patrouille de France.[1][3][4]
Nearly 900 female personnel also participated, while military delegations from Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, the United States, the United Kingdom and Paraguay joined the ceremony.[3]
Background
[edit]The parade was organized amid the beginning of activities associated with the forthcoming Bicentennial of Chile and was considerably larger than the previous year's ceremony. More than 11,000 personnel were scheduled to participate, including formations representing Army units from throughout the country.[5][6]
The planned force also included 868 women and 138 aircraft and helicopters. Defence Minister Francisco Vidal stated before the ceremony that the emphasis on aviation was not intended as a display of military hardware.[5]
Foreign contingents from Argentina, Canada, Ecuador, the United States, the United Kingdom and Paraguay were invited after taking part in the international Desierto de Atacama 2009 military patrol competition. A peacekeeping formation and representatives of the Army's divisions stationed throughout Chile were also included.[6]
The Chilean Navy planned a contingent exceeding 2,000 personnel, including 482 from the Arturo Prat Naval Academy, 667 from the Naval Polytechnic Academy, 430 Marines of the Miller detachment and 464 personnel from the Alejandro Navarrete Cisterna School for Seamen. The ceremony also marked the first participation of Naval Aviation aircraft in the parade.[7]
Parade
[edit]The ceremony began at approximately 14:45 local time with the arrival of Bachelet at O'Higgins Park accompanied by Defence Minister Francisco Vidal.[1] Following the traditional cueca performance and presentation of chicha by the Club de Huasos Gil Letelier, representatives of the Mapuche people greeted the authorities. Major General Alejandro Martínez, commander of the Santiago garrison, subsequently requested presidential authorization to begin the march-past, which was granted at 15:23.[2][6]
The service academies were followed by formations of the Navy, Air Force, Carabineros and Army. The Navy's contingent included the Arturo Prat Naval Academy, Naval Polytechnic Academy, the Miller Marine detachment and the School for Seamen. Naval Aviation participated with Pilatus PC-7 aircraft, P-3ACH Orion maritime patrol aircraft and several helicopter formations.[8]
The aerial component was one of the principal features of the ceremony. A total of 138 aircraft and helicopters participated, including 21 F-16 fighters and C-130 Hercules transports, while the Halcones and the visiting Patrouille de France performed aerial displays over the park.[1][3] The French formation consisted of nine Alpha Jets and included its commander, Virginie Guyot.[4]
Carabineros presented its training, mounted and motorized formations and, for the first time, institutional helicopters participated in the aerial component.[1] The Army contingent included representatives from its divisions throughout Chile, a peacekeeping formation, foreign military patrols and historical units. The historical sub-echelon, including formations associated with the Tacna Artillery Regiment and Granaderos Armoured Cavalry Regiment, concluded the Army presentation.[9]
The parade ended at approximately 17:45 after around three hours of ceremonies. About 15,000 spectators attended the event.[1]
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Alto número de efectivos y masivo despliegue aéreo marcaron la Parada Militar". La Tercera (in Spanish). 20 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Más de 11 mil uniformados participan en la última Parada Militar de Bachelet". Emol (in Spanish). 19 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Despliegue aéreo y presencia femenina marcaron la Parada Militar 2009". Emol (in Spanish). 19 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 "Equipo aéreo francés se presentará hoy en Parada Militar". La Tercera (in Spanish). 19 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 Delgado, Felipe (14 September 2009). "Gobierno descarta exhibir material bélico en Parada Militar 2009". BioBioChile (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Habrá 11 mil efectivos en Parada Militar". La Tercera (in Spanish). 8 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Gran despliegue aéreo destacó en la parada militar 2009". ADN Radio Chile (in Spanish). 19 September 2009. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
