2015 Chilean Military Parade
| 2015 Chilean Military Parade | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 September 2015 |
| Venue | O'Higgins Park |
| Locations | Santiago, Chile |
| Country | Chile |
| Participants | Approximately 9,000 military and police personnel |
The 2015 Chilean military parade was held at O'Higgins Park in Santiago on 19 September 2015 to commemorate the «Day of the Glories of the Army».[1][2] Presided over by President Michelle Bachelet, the parade involved approximately 9,000 members of the Chilean Armed Forces and Carabineros de Chile.[3][4]
The event marked 100 years since 19 September was established as the date for the celebration of the Day of the Glories of the Army. The parade was also affected by the 2015 Illapel earthquake, which had struck north-central Chile three days earlier. Several military units and types of equipment were withdrawn from the parade to support emergency operations in the affected areas.[5][6]
Background
[edit]The parade took place three days after the 16 September earthquake that affected the Coquimbo Region and other areas of north-central Chile. Elements of the armed forces were deployed as part of the emergency response, resulting in changes to the planned parade.[3]
Military helicopters and field hospitals that had been expected to participate were instead assigned or held available for relief operations. Elements of the Chilean Marine Corps were also deployed to the affected region and did not take part in the ceremony.[3][4]
The 2015 ceremony also coincided with the centenary of the establishment of 19 September as the date of the Day of the Glories of the Army.[5]
Parade
[edit]The ceremony was held on the ellipse of O'Higgins Park during the afternoon of 19 September. Bachelet attended accompanied by Minister of National Defence José Antonio Gómez. Brigadier General Óscar Mezzano, commander of the Santiago Army Garrison and the parade forces, requested presidential authorization to begin the march-past.[7]
The government reported approximately 9,400 participants, including 5,000 Army personnel, 1,276 members of the Chilean Navy, 1,394 of the Chilean Air Force, and 1,742 members of Carabineros.[8] Contemporary news reports gave somewhat different totals, generally describing the parade as involving around 9,000 personnel.[3][4]
A feature of the ceremony was a military free-fall parachute demonstration by members of the Army's Pelantaru Parachute Battalion. About twenty paratroopers jumped from approximately 10,000 feet (3,000 m), with the formation leader descending with a large Chilean flag. It was the first such demonstration performed before the authorities as part of the annual military parade and commemorated the 50th anniversary of military free-fall parachuting as an Army specialty.[9][10]
The parade included contingents from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Carabineros. The naval contingent included personnel from the Arturo Prat Naval Academy, Naval Polytechnic Academy, Amphibious Expeditionary Brigade, Alejandro Navarrete Cisterna School for Seamen and the Naval Reserve.[11]
Impact of the Illapel earthquake
[edit]The earthquake and the continuing relief effort became a prominent aspect of contemporary coverage of the parade. The absence of units assigned to the emergency was specifically noted by Chilean news organizations.[6][5]
The decision to hold the parade while military personnel were responding to the disaster also generated public discussion. Cooperativa reported debate on social media over whether the ceremony should proceed while relief operations were underway.[12]
After the ceremony, Bachelet acknowledged the military personnel who had been unable to participate because they were assisting communities affected by the earthquake.[6]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Paracaidistas sorprendieron en la Parada Militar 2015". 24 Horas (in Spanish). Televisión Nacional de Chile. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "La especial celebración de Fiestas Patrias". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 "Presidenta Bachelet da inicio a la Parada Militar 2015 en el Parque O'Higgins". Emol (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Nueve mil uniformados participan de la Parada Militar". Radio Universidad de Chile (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Parada Militar 2015 estuvo marcada por el terremoto en el norte". T13 (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Ausencia de algunos escuadrones marcó la Parada Militar 2015". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Ejército celebra sus Glorias con la Gran Parada Militar 2015" (in Spanish). Chilean Army. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Mandataria asiste a la Gran Parada Militar 2015" (in Spanish). Government of Chile. 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Salto de paracaidistas del Ejército marca Parada Militar 2015". La Tercera (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Paracaidistas del Ejército realizan espectacular presentación en Parada Militar". Emol (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
- ↑ "Parada Militar 2015 provocó debate en redes sociales por terremoto en el norte chico". Cooperativa.cl (in Spanish). 19 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2026.
