Tribute to Daoiz in Seville
Acts on the street are limited due to the elections
Before the 2019 elections, it was held
Ceremony for Dos de Mayo at the Artillery Academy, in Segovia.
The popular uprising in Madrid on May 2, 1808 against the Napoleonic troops is commemorated every year by the Army, which honors the Spanish who rose up against the French, and especially the soldiers who participated and on occasions They died for joining the revolting civilians.
In Madrid, a parade is held in which soldiers from the 71st Anti-Aircraft Artillery Regiment, based in Fuencarral (north of the city), participate. In addition, a small group of soldiers from the same regiment (Section of Honors, Squad of Batidores and War Band) participate in the tribute to those shot that day who are buried in the La Florida Cemetery.
Students from the Artillery Academy, in Segovia, go to Santander to pay homage to artillery captain Pedro Velarde, one of those who led the military uprising in the Monteleón Artillery Park, in Madrid.*100006 *
The Regulars and the 30th Mixed Artillery Regiment pay homage in Ceuta to Infantry Lieutenant Jacinto Ruiz, who joined the Monteleón artillerymen who faced the French.
In addition, there are commemorative acts in other cities and barracks with the presence of Artillery units: in Segovia, at the Artillery Academy; at the Conde de Gazola Base (Ferral del Bernesga, León), headquarters of the Field Artillery Command; in Castrillo del Val (Burgos), where he is in the 11th Field Artillery Regiment; in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, which houses the 94th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment; at the base of the Legion Brigade in Viator (Almería), which has an Artillery Group; in Cartagena, in charge of the Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment nº 73…
Even at the Turkish base in Incirlik, the gunners manning the Patriot missile battery deployed there celebrate this date.
The coronavirus health crisis forced the reduction and cancellation of many of these events in 2020, especially those held with the public in cities. Minimal, restricted and closed-door celebrations were organized in some barracks.
Tribute to Daoiz in Seville
Every year on that date, in Seville a military parade is held in the Plaza de la Gavidia, in the center of the city. There stands a statue of Captain Luis Daoiz, who together with Velarde led the resistance in the Monteleón Park. Daoiz and Velarde died on May 2 from injuries received in the French attack that drowned the last focus of the uprising.
In Seville, soldiers from the Anti-aircraft Artillery Regiment No. 74, located at the El Copero Base (between Dos Hermanas and Seville), parade in Seville. The act is usually presided over by a general officer, such as the head of the Antiaircraft Artillery Command, or the Lieutenant General of the Land Force.
Confidencial Digital has been able to learn that the news has been circulating these days with disgust among the soldiers of the Artillery Weapon that the act in Seville in honor of Captain Luis Daoiz and the heroes of Dos de Mayo will not be held this year in the center of the capital of Andalusia.
They criticize that the commemorative act of the 1808 uprising is going to be organized on this occasion in the El Copero barracks.
The reason for this change of location would be -according to these critics- the proximity of the regional and municipal elections on May 28. A lower profile would have been chosen given the proximity of the electoral campaign, which has generated anger among some soldiers, who do not agree with avoiding an act that -they understand- has no political overtones.
Acts on the street are limited due to the elections
ECD consulted with the Army Headquarters, which limited itself to pointing out that during electoral periods the Army’s activity on public roads is limited.
This explanation fits with the transfer from Plaza de la Gaviria, under the statue of Daoiz, to the interior of the El Copero barracks of this military tribute.
Confidencial Digital has been able to confirm that, indeed, the ceremony for Dos de Mayo is being prepared at the El Copero barracks, which houses various Army units: in addition to the 74th Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment, the most involved In homage to the artillerymen who rose up against the French, the 32nd Transmission Regiment and the Manobra IV Helicopter Battalion (BHELMA-IV) are based there.
Before the 2019 elections, it was held
Regarding the explanation that given the proximity of the elections, the actions of the Army on public roads are reduced, it should be noted that four years ago the military tribute was held in the Plaza de la Gaviria on May 2, despite the fact that there were even fewer days left for the regional and municipal elections on May 26, 2019. In addition, the general elections on April 28 had just been held.
This electoral environment did not prevent on May 2, 2019 a battery of the Antiaircraft Artillery Regiment No. 74, and Banner, Squad of Batidores and music from the General Headquarters of the Land Force from parading through the center of Seville to the Plaza de the Gavidia.
The military parade was chaired that year by the head of the Land Force, Lieutenant General Juan Gómez de Salazar Mínguez. He was accompanied by the Government delegate in Andalusia, Lucrecio Fernández, and the mayor of Seville, Juan Espadas, who was running for re-election 24 days later.
In previous years this act was also held in the Plaza de la Gavidia, but this May 2nd it will take place in the El Copero barracks.
Tribute to the heroes of Dos de Mayo at the Legion base in Viator, Almería.