A part of the Mexican Army participates in the military civil parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on September 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Francisco Cañedo)
MEXICO, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) — Mexico today celebrated the 213th anniversary of the start of the struggle for its independence from Spanish colonial power by holding the traditional civil-military parade at Plaza de la Constitución in Mexico City. This time it housed almost 14,000 members of the country’s armed forces.
The square, popularly known as the Zócalo, was decorated with motifs reminiscent of the buildings of ancient Tenochtitlán, the heart of Aztec civilization, and figures of heroes of the Mexican independence movement such as Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos, Leona Vicario and Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez .
The parade began with the soaring of nine Mexican Air Force aircraft, which colored the sky with tricolor smoke to draw the country’s national flag.
It was dedicated on this occasion to the Heroic Military College, an important institution in the training of officers of the Mexican Army, which in 2023 commemorate the bicentennial of its founding.
More than 1,500 cadets from the educational institution executed the largest rifle volley yet in the traditional parade and performed infantry maneuvers that demonstrated the skills and abilities acquired in their training.
33 battle flags, 13,805 members of Mexico’s Army, Air Force, Navy and National Guard, and 19 foreign delegations from countries such as China, Cuba, Russia, Panama and Chile, among others, marched along the Zócalo Plateau.
The Chinese military delegation was invited by the Secretariat of National Defense to the celebration of the 213th anniversary of Mexico’s independence and participated in the parade with an honor guard formation that demonstrated the combat readiness and preparation of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
The thousands of participants who attended the parade, many of them with flags, faces painted in the national colors and with attributes reminiscent of Mexico, watched the transit of 455 land vehicles, 85 aircraft and 10 boats from the three branches of the Mexican Armed Forces. Mexico, as well as the participation of 434 horses, 157 dogs and 36 eagles and falcons.
In addition to the civil-military parade, this Saturday, a day before, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador gave the usual “grito” with which Mexican leaders commemorate the “Cry of Dolores” every evening of September 15, a historic one Event led by the hero Miguel Hidalgo in 1810, who began the armed struggle against Spain for independence.
Before 190,000 people gathered in the Zócalo, López Obrador went to the balcony of the National Palace to cheer the heroes of Mexico’s independence and repeat three times the traditional cry of “Long live Mexico!”
On this occasion, López Obrador also dedicated several cheers to migrants, sovereignty, freedom, equality, justice and universal brotherhood.
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (c-top) speaks during the civilian military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, Sept. 16, 2023 .(Xinhua/Francisco Cañedo)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — Parts of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army take part in the civilian military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Francisco Cañedo)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — Elements of the Mexican army take part in the civilian military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2023. Xinhua/Francisco Canedo)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — An element of the Heroic Military College participates in the municipal military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua/Francisco Cañedo)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — Elements of the Mexican army take part in the civilian military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2023. Xinhua/Francisco Canedo)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (c) speaks during the civilian military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, Sept. 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Francisco Cañedo)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — Parts of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army take part in the civilian military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Francisco Cañedo)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — A part of the Mexican army takes part in the civilian military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2023. (Xinhua /Francisco Cañedo)
MEXICO CITY, Sept. 16, 2023 (Xinhua) — Parts of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army take part in the civilian military parade marking the 213th anniversary of the Cry for Independence in Mexico City, capital of Mexico, on Sept. 16, 2023. (Xinhua/Francisco Cañedo)