SUN SETS ON TORREVIEJA’S INTERNATIONAL VETERANS

This year's International Veteran's Day attracted thousands of visitors to Torrevieja's seafront to witness tributes to members of the forces from both today and yesteryear.

Event Coordinator Dick Conway and his team started setting up for the event at five in the morning, organising stands for the RNA, RMA, RAFA, RBL amongst others. Although the majority of the day was basked in sunshine, twelve hours later, just as the entertainment program was to begin, the heavens opened and the entire event was almost scuppered before it had started!

Fortunately, the skies cleared, the sun broke through and although a little muddy underfoot, the crowds came and the rest of the evening went, almost to plan! This year's event was organised by the President of the International Veteran's Day, Terry Watson and is now part of the month long San Cristobel Festivities. Visitors were treated to static displays from the UME, Army and Navy, a demonstration on how the UME rescue trapped victims from bad car crashes plus dog handlers and their dogs, some of which have recently served in Earthquake Zones, displaying their agility and other skills to an appreciative audience.

Across the water at the Salt Pier, pensioners and local school children were given the opportunity to visit a Spanish Naval Patrol Boat, ‘Serviola P-71' and receive a ‘baptism by the sea'. These oceanic patrol ships were built in Bazan Ferrol, Spain, commissioned by the Spanish Navy in 1991 and 1992 and open to the public to visit on Saturday.

The event has grown in stature since 2006 and year's guest of honour was Lieutenant General José Emilio Roldan Pascual who is head of the Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) a specially trained army unit of almost 4,000 personnel who are on call to help deal with major disasters such as floods, forest fires and most recently, earthquakes.

Lt General Roldan was introduced to each department of the UME and Military Units in the presence of Terry Watson, President of the International Veterans, Torrevieja's Honorary Swedish Consul Enrique Lorca Gambin, Graham Knight, Director of the Foreign Resident's Office plus Councillors Eduardo Gil Rebollo and Antonio Marin. The distinguished guests spent time onboard the Pascual Flores where they watched a sub aqua unit recover a heavy anchor and chain that had been resting on the harbour floor for many years.

As the sun began to set, wreaths were laid as a tribute to the fallen; the Spanish Flag was lowered while the National Anthem played and Veterans from the Spanish Legionnaires and the RNA, RMA, RAFA, RBL performed a march past in front of Lt General Roldan. For more information on the activities of the Torrevieja International Veterans, please contact Terry Watson by email at: soapy0709@hotmail.com.