THE MINISTRESS OF DEFENCE PRESIDES OVER THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2009 ARMY AWARDS

The ministress of Defence, Ms. Carme Chacón, yesterday presided over the presentation of the 2009 Army Awards. The ceremony was held in the “Buen Retiro” Palace’s Hall of Kingdoms, which since 1841 had housed the Army Museum’s collection until in 2005 its transfer began to the Museum’s new location on the premises of the “Alcázar” in Toledo. 
The 47th Army Awards presentation ceremony began at seven o’clock in the evening, at which time the ministress of Defence was received at the entrance to the Hall of Kingdoms by the Chief of the Army Staff, Army General Coll, accompanied by the president of the panels of judges for the 2009 Army Awards, Army General Alejandre; the director of the Military Culture and History Institute, Major General Noailles; and the director of the Army Museum, Brigadier General Núñez.

General Coll opened the ceremony with a brief address in which he highlighted the double purpose of this gala event: on one hand, the recognition of the award winners, who “go on to increase the large group of prestigious authors who incorporate their work in the Army’s artistic patrimony”; and on the other hand, the tribute – reflected by the videos interspersed with the awards presentations – to what until today has been the Army Museum. The symbolic choice of the “Buen Retiro” Palace as the scene for this Awards presentation ceremony has modified the tradition of holding this event at “Buenavista” Palace, Army Headquarters.

Award Presentation
The ministress of Defence awarded the trophies corresponding to the Painting area, which in the large format category were presented to Ms. Begoña Millán, author of the work Terrorist Attack –worthy of first prize– and to Mr. Narcís Sala, who received second prize for the painting Lights and Shadows of a Decision. The winner in the small format category was Mr. Javier Cortés, who submitted the work Field Battery. 
General Coll presented first and second prize in the Photography area, which went to Ms. María Giménez and Mr. Rafael Carmona, respectively.
The awards corresponding to the Miniatures area, in the scenes category, were presented by General Alejandre to Mr. Íñigo Rodríguez and Mr. Julio César Cabos, and in the figures category to Mr. Antonio Zapatero and Mr. Roberto Ramírez.
General Noailles presented the awards for the categories of primary education, secondary education and “grado superior” in the Education area. 
The Director of the Army Museum, General Núñez, presented the award in Research in Humanities to the author of “The Fortress of the Monarchy”, Mr. Carlos Belloso, who gave an address of gratitude on behalf of all the award winners. 

Mr. Julio Albi de la Cuesta, Awarded the Special Distinction 
Following this, the ministress of Defence and General Coll presented the Special Distinction awarded to the diplomat Mr. Julio Albi de la Cuesta, in recognition of his professional career and his facet as a writer and historian. Mr. Albi de la Cuesta is the author of an extensive bibliography devoted almost exclusively to military history, with which he has contributed to improving and disseminating the prestige of the Spanish Army all over the world. On receiving the award, consisting of a general’s sabre, the historian and diplomat expressed his gratitude and underlined the sensitivity that the Army shows toward all those who study the past of our militia. 
 

Address by the Ministress of Defence 
Lastly, the ministress of Defence addressed those attending by beginning with regard for Captain Hormigo Ledesma and 1st Sergeant López Moreno, who were killed a year ago while undertaking the peacekeeping mission carried out by the European Union in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The air accident, in which the two Spanish servicemen along with two German servicemen lost their lives caused the cancellation of the 2008 Army Awards presentation ceremony, thus the present ceremony has been the first to be attended by the ministress Ms. Carme Chacón since she took up her post. 
The ministress of Defence congratulated the award winners –particularly ambassador Albi, whom she thanked for an entire life dedicated to the service of Spain– and likewise dedicated some words to the building of the “Buen Retiro” Palace, not without affirming that the Army Museum, at its new location in the “Alcázar” in Toledo, “is designated to be one of the best military museums in the world”. 
After Ms. Carme Chacón’s address, the musicians from the King’s Immemorial 1st Infantry Regiment and the 1st Army Sub-inspection General performed the Army Museum march, composed by Lieutenant Colonel Blasco as a musical farewell to the walls which for nearly 200 years had been home to the Spanish military history collections.