The Civil Guard celebrated this Saturday for the first time in 180 years of history This October 12, the commemorative event of its patron saint, the Virgin of Pilarin the center of Vitoria. This is the first time that they celebrate it in this place, instead of doing it in the usual setting of this celebration, their Sansomendi barracks, a change of place that reflects “tranquility and democratic normality“.
The location chosen for the celebration, which also coincides with the 180th anniversary of the bodywas the Plaza de España, in front of the town hall, where many Vitorians came to attend an event chaired by the general head of the Civil Guard of the Basque Country Zone, José Antonio Mingorance, and by the Government delegate , Marisol Garmendia.
“It’s exciting and hopeful. that this event can take place in the Plaza de España, in the heart of Vitoria, in tranquility and democratic normality”, congratulated Garmendia, who also praised the “public success and warm welcome” of this event and other recent ones. The Guard and the National Police organized themselves in the streets of Vitoria and Bilbao.
“The first times I trust will be the second, the third… until they are no longer relevant“, said the delegate, who added: “We are not going to go back to the past. Neither to the dictatorship of Franco, nor to the dictatorship of ETA terror, who murdered 161 civil guards in the Basque Country.
An “emotional memory and infinite gratitude”
Garmendia had a “emotional memory and infinite gratitude” for the agents murdered and injured by the terrorist group, thanks to whom it is now possible that there is peace and freedom in Euskadi, and he also sent a “warm hug” to their families, who had to face “silence , even contempt.” ” ” of Basque society The audience greeted these words with applause, which forced Garmendia to interrupt his speech for a few moments.
The delegate was happy to see women among the agents participating in this event, but she hoped that more women will become civil guards and follow in the footsteps of the first female agents who joined the Benemérita 36 years ago and who feel “proud“.
The general head of the Civil Guard of the Basque Country Zone specified that currently 13% of Benemárita staff are women, “a still low figure”, but it increases every year thanks to the “push” of younger generations. Thus, during the last OPE for corporals and guards, 31% of the candidates were women.
