Arrecife commemorates Spanish National Day with military ceremony

Arrecife, Lanzarote, held a military ceremony to commemorate the Spanish National Day. The event, organized by the Lanzarote Air Base and the Arrecife City Council, featured the solemn raising of the Spanish flag in front of the City Hall. Presided over by Colonel Carlos Jiménez Andrés, the ceremony included personnel from the Air and Space Force and the 22nd Air Surveillance Squadron.

In addition to the local commemorations, the Spanish Legion continues its tradition of including a mascot in the national parade. This year, a two-year-old goat named ‘Babieca’ from the Tercio Don Juan de Austria will participate in the procession. The tradition of using animals as mascots evolved from historical military practices where troops carried animals for food, eventually leading to soldiers forming emotional bonds with them.