Arrecife marked Spain’s National Day on Saturday with a solemn flag-raising ceremony, led by Colonel Carlos Jiménez Andrés at the Base Aérea de Lanzarote. The event, coordinated by the Air and Space Force and the local council, took place at 12:00 on the Avenida de Vargas, attracting civilian and military officials as well as many residents and visitors.
In his address, Colonel Jiménez highlighted the significance of National Day for the military, explaining that events organised around 12th October aim to showcase their role in serving Spain and its citizens. He noted that the flag-raising in Arrecife mirrored similar ceremonies held daily at military establishments across the country.
“The flag represents the history, culture, and customs of all who live under its protection,” he stated, emphasising the commitment of service members to the nation. The ceremony concluded with the national anthem playing as the flag was raised, with honours presented by personnel from the Air and Space units based in Lanzarote.
The roots of the National Day celebration date back to 23rd September 1892 when Regent Queen María Cristina declared 12th October a national holiday to commemorate the Discovery of America. Since then, this date has become a significant day of institutional celebration throughout Spain. Additional activities have also been organised across the Canary Islands to engage the public in the festivities.
