National Day of Spain
The military parade for Spain's National Day, Día de la Hispanidad, took place on Sunday, October 12th. Here's a photo summary of the parade, which featured over 40 aircraft, tanks, the Spanish flag being flown by parachute, and Baraka, the Legion's mascot, the Legion's goat.
Madrid has once again dressed up to celebrate National Day, with a military parade in which 3,847 members of the Armed Forces, Civil Guard and National Police participated, in addition to 162 vehicles and 74 aircraft.
We've compiled a collection of official images, as well as posts from the various branches of the Spanish Armed Forces and Security Forces, documenting the parade. It was the first time Princess Leonor wore the uniform of the Air Force and Space Corps, and the first flypast by the Pilatus PC-21 aircraft as part of the Mirlo Patrol.
The King and Queen arrived escorted by the Royal Guard. After greeting regional and national authorities, they took their seats. The Spanish flag was then lowered by parachute in a perfectly calculated maneuver by the Spanish Army's paratroopers. Once the flag had been raised, a moving wreath-laying ceremony was held to honor the fallen.
During the offering, the Mirlo Formation flew by with Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, drawing the Spanish flag in the sky. This patrol is the successor to the legendary Patrulla Águila, one of the most beloved air shows among the civilian population.
The air show was shortened due to low visibility caused by fog in the Spanish capital. F-18s, Eurofighters, Harriers, and Pilatus PC-21s flew through the skies. The helicopter portion of the parade was cancelled due to the weather conditions.
After the moving tribute to the fallen, the ground parade officially began. The parade was led by motorized units on Harley-Davidson motorcycles, followed by the Army Veterans Corps.
The UME (Military Emergency Unit) has been particularly active this year due to its outstanding work in various emergencies, such as the wildfires in León and Galicia this past summer, and the floods caused by the DANA storm that devastated Valencia a year ago and the current DANA Alice storm in the Levante region. The UME will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2025.vvvv
The Civil Guard has a double celebration, as this day coincides with the day of its patron saint, the Virgin of Pilar.
Following the National Police, representatives from non-military organizations that offer support and assistance, such as SAMUR (Madrid's emergency medical service), the 112 emergency service, and the Fire Department, marched past. The Royal Guard also made an appearance, dressed in full dress uniform.
Next, we were able to enjoy the Air Force and Space with their recognizable blue uniform, the same one that Princess Leonor is currently wearing due to her ongoing training in this branch of the Army.
Professors and students of the General Military Academy have shown their dress uniform, which although it resembles that of the Air Force and Space with that characteristic red feather and blue jacket, differs in that they wear red trousers and a gold cord that goes from the right shoulder to the center of the neck.
One of the most anticipated moments each year is the appearance of the Legion in the parade and its rapid march of 160 steps per minute. This year, its mascot, Baraka, which means «luck» in Arabic, is a 3-year-old male sheep.
October 12th parade for Hispanic Day: the reception at the Royal Palace
Following the military parade for Hispanic Day, presided over by the King and Queen, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, the official celebration moves to the Royal Palace where the King and Queen will preside over a reception.
The October 12th parade will have over 1,700 personnel deployed for security. Furthermore, the parade will be marked by political absences, including several regional presidents and ministers Cuerpo, Redondo, and Bustinduy.