On Monday morning, a detachment of the General San Martín Horse Grenadier Regiment arrived in our city, along with an exact replica of the Liberator's curved saber.
The ceremony was presided over by mayor Francisco Azcué. Also present were municipal vice-mayor Magdalena Reta de Urquiza; the Secretary of Government Luciano Dell´Olio; the Undersecretary of Education Carlos Gatto; the Undersecretary of Government Lucas Fuscado; council members; the Departmental Director of Schools Julio Barrios; among others.
Also sharing in the ceremony were members of the Sanmartiniana Cultural Association of Concordia; the Argentine Patrician Ladies Association; and students and teachers from the Gerardo Victorín Commerce School No. 16, Nea Siglo XXI, Secondary and Higher School No. 1 “Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós”, and School No. 34 "Esteban Echeverría".
PRICES
After the ceremony, Azcué highlighted that “it is a milestone for the history of our city to receive our grenadiers and the replica of General San Martín's curved saber, given that we want to promote all those values that have to do with dedication, loyalty, honesty, and patriotism, especially seeing the young people, the students, whom we see motivated and learning a little more about our history”.
The mayor recalled that “for us, from our administration, we want to promote not only structural changes but a cultural change, and part of that requires stimulating that sense of belonging and patriotism”.
IN THE DEPARTMENT
Gatto, for his part, detailed that the visit of the grenadiers and the exhibition of the relic do not only include the city but also the towns of the Concordia department, such as Los Charrúas and La Criolla.
“Starting Tuesday, it will begin touring our schools,” the official announced. He also stressed the importance of the visit, as it “serves to work again on the whole issue of values, especially the value of patriotism, which in recent times had been somewhat lost”.
FREEDOM
In turn, Reta de Urquiza expressed that “this saber, which accompanied General San Martín in the liberation of three countries in America, signifies freedom”.
But, freedom “with responsibility, freedom exercised as responsible citizens, implies highlighting all the values that both the mayor and Professor Gatto have already made manifest, and that is why it has enormous educational value”.
IN THE CUSTODY OF THE GRENADIERS
On this occasion, the member of the Horse Grenadier Regiment, First Sergeant Eduardo López, thanked Concordia for its hospitality and explained that “this saber is a replica of the one used by General San Martín throughout his career for the liberation of America,” he highlighted. After giving a brief history of the original relic, he stressed that since 1966 “it was taken into the custody of the Horse Grenadier regiment”. During 2015, “the original curved saber returned to the National Historical Museum, where it is currently located”.
ROUTE
The schedule planned for the exhibition includes Tuesday, September 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Secondary School No. 1 "B. Quirós".
On Wednesday, September 25, at the same time, it will be the turn of Secondary School No. 2 "Gral. Artigas" in La Bianca.
During Thursday, September 26, the exhibition will be at primary school No. 34 "Esteban Echeverría".
And finally, on Friday, September 27, the exhibition will close at secondary school No. 35 "Cabo Sendrós".
CURVED SABER
The Curved Saber accompanied San Martín in his liberation campaign. The replica exhibited in Concordia is the piece recreated by master goldsmith Juan Carlos Pallarols, who respected every detail of the symbol of the struggle for independence.
It is worth noting that the original was acquired by General San Martín in London in 1811. It represents the commitment to freedom and justice.
Through this exhibition, which will be accompanied by an educational video, new generations will be able to get closer to the figure of the Father of the Nation and understand his influence.
The saber has a Damascus steel blade that was approximately 100 years old at the time it was acquired. The hilt is made of ebony wood and its scabbard is covered with leather and bronze. Historical studies suggest that San Martín had been the first to introduce this type of weapon in South America.
In his last and final will, dated in Paris on January 23, 1844, San Martín ordered that the Saber “which has accompanied me throughout the entire war of independence of South America, shall be delivered to the General of the Argentine Republic, Don Juan Manuel de Rosas, as a proof of the satisfaction that, as an Argentine, I have had in seeing the firmness with which he has upheld the honor of the Republic against the unjust pretensions of foreigners”.
The ceremony was presided over by mayor Francisco Azcué. Also present were municipal vice-mayor Magdalena Reta de Urquiza; the Secretary of Government Luciano Dell´Olio; the Undersecretary of Education Carlos Gatto; the Undersecretary of Government Lucas Fuscado; council members; the Departmental Director of Schools Julio Barrios; among others.
Also sharing in the ceremony were members of the Sanmartiniana Cultural Association of Concordia; the Argentine Patrician Ladies Association; and students and teachers from the Gerardo Victorín Commerce School No. 16, Nea Siglo XXI, Secondary and Higher School No. 1 “Cesáreo Bernaldo de Quirós”, and School No. 34 "Esteban Echeverría".
PRICES
After the ceremony, Azcué highlighted that “it is a milestone for the history of our city to receive our grenadiers and the replica of General San Martín's curved saber, given that we want to promote all those values that have to do with dedication, loyalty, honesty, and patriotism, especially seeing the young people, the students, whom we see motivated and learning a little more about our history”.
The mayor recalled that “for us, from our administration, we want to promote not only structural changes but a cultural change, and part of that requires stimulating that sense of belonging and patriotism”.
IN THE DEPARTMENT
Gatto, for his part, detailed that the visit of the grenadiers and the exhibition of the relic do not only include the city but also the towns of the Concordia department, such as Los Charrúas and La Criolla.
“Starting Tuesday, it will begin touring our schools,” the official announced. He also stressed the importance of the visit, as it “serves to work again on the whole issue of values, especially the value of patriotism, which in recent times had been somewhat lost”.
FREEDOM
In turn, Reta de Urquiza expressed that “this saber, which accompanied General San Martín in the liberation of three countries in America, signifies freedom”.
But, freedom “with responsibility, freedom exercised as responsible citizens, implies highlighting all the values that both the mayor and Professor Gatto have already made manifest, and that is why it has enormous educational value”.
IN THE CUSTODY OF THE GRENADIERS
On this occasion, the member of the Horse Grenadier Regiment, First Sergeant Eduardo López, thanked Concordia for its hospitality and explained that “this saber is a replica of the one used by General San Martín throughout his career for the liberation of America,” he highlighted. After giving a brief history of the original relic, he stressed that since 1966 “it was taken into the custody of the Horse Grenadier regiment”. During 2015, “the original curved saber returned to the National Historical Museum, where it is currently located”.
ROUTE
The schedule planned for the exhibition includes Tuesday, September 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Secondary School No. 1 "B. Quirós".
On Wednesday, September 25, at the same time, it will be the turn of Secondary School No. 2 "Gral. Artigas" in La Bianca.
During Thursday, September 26, the exhibition will be at primary school No. 34 "Esteban Echeverría".
And finally, on Friday, September 27, the exhibition will close at secondary school No. 35 "Cabo Sendrós".
CURVED SABER
The Curved Saber accompanied San Martín in his liberation campaign. The replica exhibited in Concordia is the piece recreated by master goldsmith Juan Carlos Pallarols, who respected every detail of the symbol of the struggle for independence.
It is worth noting that the original was acquired by General San Martín in London in 1811. It represents the commitment to freedom and justice.
Through this exhibition, which will be accompanied by an educational video, new generations will be able to get closer to the figure of the Father of the Nation and understand his influence.
The saber has a Damascus steel blade that was approximately 100 years old at the time it was acquired. The hilt is made of ebony wood and its scabbard is covered with leather and bronze. Historical studies suggest that San Martín had been the first to introduce this type of weapon in South America.
In his last and final will, dated in Paris on January 23, 1844, San Martín ordered that the Saber “which has accompanied me throughout the entire war of independence of South America, shall be delivered to the General of the Argentine Republic, Don Juan Manuel de Rosas, as a proof of the satisfaction that, as an Argentine, I have had in seeing the firmness with which he has upheld the honor of the Republic against the unjust pretensions of foreigners”.