The Chief of Staff of the Army led the closing ceremony of an exhibition about the Spanish Army’s contribution to the birth of the United States of America

On the 16th of September, the Chief of Staff of the Army closed the exhibition ‘The battle for independence: the contribution of the Spanish Army to the birth of the United States of America,’ as part of a cooperative agreement with the Ministry of Defence and which the Army maintains with the Association ‘The Legacy’. The Chief of Staff of the Army, General Francisco J. Varela Salas, led the ceremony, accompanied by the President of the Association, Eva García, as well as other important civilian and military figures. Since June, more than 75,000 people have enjoyed a historic journey through the role which Spanish troops carried out in the process of gaining independence for the United States of America, especially the figures of Charles III and General Bernardo de Gálvez.

During the closing ceremony, Eva García presented the minting of a limited edition ‘1779’ coin, which the Royal Mint of Spain will issue. On the head of the coin, King Charles III and George Washington, who was a general at the time, face each other. Additionally, Warrant officer class 1 Barroso received an award for his work ‘Siege of Fort Charlotte’, which won the association’s painting prize.

This series of initiatives forms part of the ‘1779. Not without Spain’ project and have complemented the exhibition. Furthermore, the association will publish the book ‘George Washington and Spain. The arrival of the Spanish Army in the United States of America’ with the help of the Ministry of Defence’s Department of Publications.

Participants in the event’s closing ceremony