Santa Cruz de Tenerife is set to commemorate Armed Forces Day in 2025. This has been confirmed to the city’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, by the Chief of Defence Staff, Teodoro E. López Calderón, in response to the invitation extended by the municipal councillor for the main events to occur in the chicharrera city.
On September 18, the mayor reached out to both the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, and the Chief of the General Staff, offering the city as a venue for this day that annually highlights the dedication, effort, and commitment of the Armed Forces personnel.
“It is a privilege for Santa Cruz that our invitation to host Armed Forces Day has been accepted. It provides an opportunity for the municipality’s promotion, as well as demonstrating to the rest of the State our capability to organise and coordinate large celebrations of this nature. This event reinforces our identity as the capital of the Canary Islands,” expressed the mayor.
Bermúdez also expressed gratitude to Lieutenant General Julio Salom Herrera, head of the Canary Islands Command of the Army, “for the collaboration and support he has extended to us in achieving this aim.”
In the correspondence sent to the Minister of Defence, the mayor elucidated, “there are numerous connections that link Santa Cruz with its Armed Forces. Besides the notable presence of Army Units and the Military Emergency Unit, it is also in proximity to the sister island of Gran Canaria, which hosts a significant deployment of Navy and Air Force units, alongside the Civil Guard. Furthermore, I would like to highlight that since 1986, the Canary Archipelago has not witnessed a similar celebration on its territory.”
The councillor noted that “1986 was a particularly momentous occasion for us, still fondly remembered in the islands, as we had the then Prince of Asturias parading as a Cadet Knight with the General Academy of Zaragoza. Therefore, it would be a honour to welcome HM the King, this time as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and HRH the Princess of Asturias, should the arrangements for their military training permit.”
The mayor commented that “the alignment of the 1986 commemoration with the 2025 festivities will render the parade in this capital both emotional and unique. We are fully committed, alongside the Cabildo of Tenerife and the Government of the Canary Islands, to ensure this occurs. Our relationship with the Canary Islands Command of the Army and the other Armed Forces Commands is strong, guaranteeing cooperation from the very beginning.”
In the letter issued by the Chief of Defence Staff to José Manuel Bermúdez, it is noted that Armed Forces Day is marked each year on the Saturday closest to May 30, the holiday for King Fernando III, the Saint. Every year, a city is designated for the celebration of the parade that is presided over by Their Majesties the Kings of Spain.
In addition to the military parade, various activities take place in the preceding days, including static and dynamic exhibitions of equipment, a military music meeting, and demonstrations of personnel and equipment.
As mentioned in Admiral General López Calderón’s correspondence, “for all these reasons, and following your letter sent to the Minister of Defence on September 18, we have considered celebrating Armed Forces Day in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.”
“Our goal,” the letter continues, “is to help the Spanish populace become better acquainted with their armed forces and to foster closer ties with the society we serve. Santa Cruz de Tenerife, owing to its infrastructure, tradition, and relationship with the Armed Forces, would serve as a splendid venue for the Armed Forces Day celebration.”
He concludes by stating, “It would indeed be an honour for us to share a display of our Armed Forces’ capabilities with all our residents in Tenerife, particularly with the chicharreros.”
Last year, Oviedo, the capital of Asturias, hosted this celebration, attended by Their Majesties the Kings of Spain, featuring a total of 3,250 soldiers and 147 vehicles participating in the land parade, which spanned approximately one kilometre.
