Those Heroes of Iquique

El Líbero, May 24, 2024

They are much more than figures that remind us of triumphs or defeats; they embody our patriotic values, those instilled in children from a young age, values that often get lost amid so much ideology.

Ten minutes past noon on Wednesday, May 21, the sinking of the corvette Esmeralda was commemorated, along with the values and heroism embodied by Arturo Prat. A hero of Iquique who has transcended our borders to be recognized by the Japanese as a representative of the Bushido code, which demanded loyalty and honor until death from samurai. So much so that the bust of Captain Prat is located at the entrance of the Naval Academy of Japan, alongside those of Admirals Togo and Nelson, as a tribute to what they consider the three greatest naval heroes.

That heroism, loyalty, and honor for the homeland are fundamental to institutional identity and cohesion. Beyond the current governments, the Navy is dedicated to Chile. For this reason, it invests and grows.

In this regard, the approval of the project to increase coastal personnel, which will allow the Navy to help secure our borders, was highlighted in the speech of its Commander in Chief. The maritime police plays a key role in combating organized crime at sea, and at a time when this threat is growing in the country, its strength is even more relevant.

Another important milestone relates to the delivery of the new icebreaker Almirante Oscar Viel, built in national shipyards, which with its modern technology will join an Antarctic triad that will oversee the care and development of Chilean territory on the white continent.

The Navy’s commitment is to Chile, and its sailors are trained to honor that commitment. They swear to the flag to defend their country and become, alongside the other branches of the Armed Forces, the repository of national identity.

These efforts in personnel and capabilities are key tools to materialize their commitment and position the image of Chile in all latitudes. We live in a moment where the traditional threat of an interstate conflict has been overshadowed by the urgency posed by organized crime groups, leading many to call for a refocusing of efforts so that the military instrument combats these transnational criminals on national territory.

Undoubtedly, Defense can contribute in these areas; protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity is its constitutional mission. However, it is not possible to view the Armed Forces solely as a tool to be used in difficult times. War heroes are much more than figures that remind us of triumphs or defeats; they embody our patriotic values, those instilled in children from a young age, values that often get lost amid so much ideology.

To Chile came the English, Spanish, Germans, etc., but it is those soldiers who allowed us to build the homeland and call ourselves Chileans. Foreign and indigenous peoples, embodied in those heroes, are the ones who year after year revive patriotic values and make us feel proud of our history.

Pilar Lizana
Senior Researcher, AthenaLab

Source: El Líbero