Tribute Ceremony in Memory of Sergeant Major Casanova

Familia y autoridades asistieron al acto (Photo:Isabel Pérez)

Floral offering at the monument to the victims of terrorism (Photo:Isabel Pérez)

Residents of the locality of Berriozar, Navarra, paid tribute, on 9th August, in a moving ceremony to Sergeant Major Francisco Casanova, killed by the ETA terrorist group 11 years ago.

The ceremony was organised by the Neighbours of Peace association and consisted of the celebration of a mass in the parish church of Saint Stephen in Berriozar, where the sergeant major was posted, followed by the placement of a floral wreath at the so-called Liberty Gate, a monument dedicated to the victims of terrorism erected beside Sol square. To close the ceremony, the 10th Francisco Casanova jota folk dance gathering was held, which receives this name in memory of the sergeant major.

Among the civilian authorities, outstanding was the president of the Navarra Autonomous Government, Ms. Yolanda Barcina, who headed the institutional presence at the ceremony; among the military authorities, the military commander in Navarra, General José Ignacio González attended, as well as various members of 66th Mountain Light Infantry Regiment "América", garrisoned on Base "Aizoain".

A lifetime in Navarra

Sergeant Major Casanova, Infantry, was a native of the locality of Igea, La Rioja, although he had grown up in Castejón (Navarra); he had been posted from 1979 to 66th Regiment "América”, with headquarters in the locality of Berriozar. He combined his military profession with other cultural activities, such as his participation in jota folk dance groups. At the time of his death he was 47 years old and father of two children.