King Felipe VI presides over the Spanish Legion’s centenary

THE King of Spain, Felipe VI today, Sunday, September 20, presided over the central act of the Legion’s centenary. The day is emblematic as it coincides with the date on which the first legionary enlisted.

Accompanied by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, the Chief of the Army General Staff, Francisco Javier Varela and the current head of the unit, Marcos Llago, King Felipe VI reviewed the troop after paying his honours on the centenary, that he created.

The centenary is celebrated under the motto of “Cien años de valor, el valor de cien años”, which translates as, “One hundred years of value, the value of one hundred years.”

On this occasion the event is much smaller than usual, given the pandemic situation that the country is going through, however, the centenary commemoration will continue throughout the year. From the Álvarez de Sotomayor Base in Almería, King Felipe VI has shown his support to the members of the corps who have paraded in uniform and with face masks, following the recommendations of the health authorities.

The celebration was without an audience, with less representation of civil and military authorities than was originally planned given the incidence of the pandemic.

For her part, the minister, Margarita Robles, congratulated the Legion on a message through social networks in which she showed her “pride” and highlighted on this special day “the work they do to make a country stronger and stronger every day. every day better.”

She added, “You are brave, generous and loyal, you are a source of pride for all of Spain”. She also conveyed “her love and support” and indicated that they have “a present and a future that we all want be the best”.