The Legion celebrates its 95th anniversary

The parade added colour to the event (Photo: J.M.Seguela/DECET)

Muñoz-Grandes, Martín Cabrero and Morenés (Photo: J.M.Seguela/DECET)

Tribute to those who have given their lives for Spain (Photo: J.M.Seguela/DECET)

The Legion advances decisively towards its first centenary. It has just celebrated the 95th anniversary since its foundation in an event presided over by the minister of Defence, Pedro Morenés, who was accompanied by the Chief of the Army Staff, General Jaime Domínguez Buj. The celebration took place at the “Álvarez de Sotomayor” base in Viator (Almería), headquarters of the 2nd Legion Light Infantry Brigade “Rey Alfonso XIII”, on 20 September.

After official honours, a review of the troops and the lecture of the Royal Decree by which the Legion was established, the minister presented the Spanish Legion Prize, which is granted every five years, to Lieutenant General Agustín Muñoz-Grandes. This was an acknowledgement of his role as commander of the Rapid Reaction Force and of his conviction that the Legion was ready to be deployed in its first international missions in the Balkans in the 1990s. In addition, decorations were awarded and the “20 September” trophy was bestowed upon the 8th Legion Battalion “Colón”.

General Juan J. Martín Cabrero, commander of the Legion Brigade (BRILEG by its Spanish acronym), delivered a speech in which he highlighted that nowadays the men and women of the Legion “feel loved by our fellow citizens, the Spanish people, which is the best reward to our daily dedication and hard work.” He also referred to the contingent of legionnaires who returned to Spain from Iraq in July and to the forthcoming deployment of the unit in Lebanon in November: “Around 600 soldiers under my command will be travelling to those lands, where Spain has been working for regional peace for nine years.”

The ceremony continued with the always moving tribute to those who have given their lives for Spain. Next the troops in formation sang the Song of the Legionnaire and recited two maxims of the Legionnaire’s Creed. Then came the parade, with the participation of the Parade Squad, the War and Music Band, the Headquarters Battalion, the 3rd Legion Regiment “Juan de Austria”, the Artillery Group, the Sapper Battalion and the Logistic Group. The parade added colour to an occasion in which 2,000 legionnaires in formation were cheered by around 3,000 people from the terraces. Also in attendance were, among other dignitaries, Antonio Sanz, provincial representative of the Government; Gabriel Amat, president of the Almería Council; and Luis Rogelio Rodríguez, mayor of the town.

Almost a century of history

The Legion was created by Royal Decree as Foreigners Regiment on 28 January 1920, although its anniversary is commemorated on 20 September, when the first legionnaire enlisted. It was the brainchild of Lieutenant Colonel José Millán Astray, who was also its first commander, and its initial emplacement was Ceuta. At present it is composed of BRILEG, based in Viator (Almería) and Ronda (Málaga); the 1st Legion Regiment “Gran Capitán”, in Melilla; and the 2nd Legion Regiment “Duque de Alba”, in Ceuta. In fact, commemorative events were also held in Melilla and Ceuta to remember the feats of this almost centenary unit.

Since 1992 the Legion has sent 24 contingents to missions abroad: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Iraq, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Mali.