on Thursday led the tribute ceremony for the Bicentennial of the sacrifice of Peruvian Independence Martyr, Jose Olaya Balandra, and the 64th anniversary of Peru's Army Communications Force establishment.
The ceremony included a parade held on Malecon Grau Avenue in Lima's Chorrillos district.
Also participating in the event were Chorrillos Mayor, the Army General Commander, the Bicentennial Program Executive-Director, as well as civil and military authorities.
Minister Chavez Cresta and other
authorities placed wreaths before the statue of Olaya, who on June 29, 1823, was victimized by the Spanish forces for refusing to reveal the content of the messages he was carrying to be delivered to the liberating army forces.
"Today, we commemorate the self-sacrifice of Chorrillos fisherman and hero Jose Silverio Olaya Balandra, Patron of the Army Communications Force, a secret emissary who carried messages between the independent government refuged in Callao (region) and the patriots in Lima," the
Ministry of Defense expressed via its official Twitter account.
"He died without revealing his work and preferred to swallow the letters entrusted for the mission. His phrase 'if I had a thousand lives, I would gladly give them for my country' remains in the memory of all Peruvians," the government agency highlighted.
Today, the Peruvian Army also celebrates the 64th anniversary of its Communications Force, of which Olaya is patron.
Therefore, members of this military institution participated parading the area during this event.