H.M. the King Presides over the Principal Ceremony of the 3rd Centenary of the Creation of the Engineer Arm

 

 

 

 

Beatriz Gonzalo/Hoyo de Manzanares (Madrid)

H.M. the King today has presided over the principal ceremony of the celebration of the 3rd centenary of the creation of the Engineer Arm at the Engineer Academy, situated in Hoyo de Manzanares (Madrid).

On the Parade Ground all Engineer units were represented, including a cadet battalion from the Academy, a company from the Engineer Command and another from the Signals Brigade.  The King’s Immemorial 1st Regiment Military Band was in charge of the music. 

In the grandstand, along with the King, were the ministress of Defence, Ms. Carme Chacón, the Joint Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Force General José J. Rodríguez, and the Chief of the Army Staff, Army General Fulgencio Coll, among other authorities.

During the ceremony the Engineer Academy Colour received the Order of Isabelle the Catholic Cravate from the Monarch, the Grand Master of this Order.  This distinction has been awarded to the Arm, on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation, given their “renowned humanitarian labour”.

Likewise, Lieutenant General Agustín Quesada,  the first Spanish general to command an international United Nations unit, received the extraordinary award  “Zarco del Valle” —represented by a sculpture of the castle that identifies the Engineers— “for having been exceptionally outstanding in his military and professional virtues, and due to his dedication and efficacy in service”.

300 Years Improving Everyone’s Security

The ministress of Defence wished to emphasise in her speech the important labour that the members of this Arm have been carrying out in missions abroad.  She named, among other examples, the reconstruction of the Old Bridge in Mostar, the infrastructures in Central America following hurricane Mitch, or more recently, the construction of the new Spanish base in Afghanistan.

“Where the Engineers go, life is renewed”, she assured.  Also contributing to this is their work in mine and explosive device deactivation in countries like Lebanon. “You have worked continuously in favour of everyone’s security,” she added.  In her opinion, the Engineers improve the lives of many people and ennoble the name of Spain wherever they go.

In turn, the commandant of the Engineer Academy and Inspector of the Arm, General Antonio González, underlined the factor of innovation that the Engineers contribute to the Army and to the entire society, as well as encouraging its members to continue applying this motto in their work. 

Memories for Posterity

A plaque unveiled by the King, place on the monolith dedicated to Mr. Próspero de Verboom (the creator of the Engineer Arm) at the entrance of the San Fernando building will commemorate the 3rd centenary.

His Majesty also wished to congratulate the painter Mr. Augusto Ferrer Dalmau on the work that he has undertaken to commemorate this date.  This painting, titled “The Heroic Feat of the Sappers”, represents the Royal mine-Sapper Regiment abandoning Alcalá de Henares on 24th May 1808. They were the first unit to rise up against the French at the beginning of the Spanish War of Independence.  The work has been donated by the Arm Historical Studies Commission to the Academy, where it will remain on display in memory of the anniversary of this event.