The Legion celebrates its patron saint with a massive military parade

The protection of the Immaculate Conception as the patroness of the Infantry corps originates from an event that occurred in the 16th century, during the war that the Spanish Tercios in Flanders were engaged in the Netherlands.

In the small town of Empel, Spanish infantrymen heroically withstood the assaults of the Dutch infantry, when a soldier digging a trench found an image of the Immaculate Conception. This discovery caused a great stir and was interpreted as a good omen, helping to boost the morale of the troops, and leading to their successful emergence from the siege they were under.

The protection of the Immaculate Conception is attributed to their salvation and victory. There, she was proclaimed the patroness of the Tercios of Flanders and the Brotherhood of the Soldiers of the Virgin Immaculate was founded.

Since then, infantry units, such as The Legion, celebrate commemorative military events on the day of their patroness. In the case of Ronda, the Tercio Alejandro Farnesio 4th of the Legion, has held it at the Montejaque barracks. A parade ground that saw a large turnout of civilian public to witness the military parade.

Specifically, the units formed in the parade ground were, 4th Tercio: Pioneer Squad, command line and command staff, war band of the 4th Tercio/GCLAC II, X “Millán Astray” Banner, pioneer squad of the X Banner, command, command staff of the X Banner, and five companies.

From the Light Armored Cavalry Group II of The Legion, its scout squad of the GCLAC II, command, PLM of the GCLAC II, and four squadrons participated.

The colonel chief of the Tercio Alejandro Farnesio 4th of the Legion, Fernando Sánchez, recalled those heroic times and highlighted the infantrymen who have inherited that legacy and who have had to face very challenging situations in complex missions in international deployments such as the wars in the Balkans, Iraq, or Afghanistan where they had to repel enemy attacks.

He also congratulated the two new legionaries of honor, Juan Manuel Beltrán Rodríguez and Domingo Caballero, after receiving the typical legionnaire cap (chapiri) that is awarded in this act. He also had words for the journalist from Ronda of Canal Charry, Manuel Guerrero, who will soon receive the highest award granted by the Legion to a civilian. Similarly, various commendations were also awarded to military personnel.

These recognitions were received with applause by the numerous public present. There were also very emotional moments when the legionnaires performed their most famous songs, including the infantry anthem, as well as their creeds. Honors were also paid to the deceased of this unit.

After that, a parade of the units on foot and of light armored vehicles with different weapon configurations was held, including the new mortars on vehicles with which this elite unit has been equipped.