Battle of Carabobo's 196th Anniversary Celebrated in Venezuela

Venezuelans are remembering their revolutionary forefathers in a march through the capital Caracas.

President Nicolas Maduro is overseeing the day’s events in honor of the Battle of Carabobo in 1821.

It marked the end of the Venezuelan civil war, under the leadership of Latin American hero General Simon Bolivar, and secured the nation its independence from Spain.

Carrying on a new tradition started by President Hugo Chavez, the civic-military parade is being led Nicolás Maduro from the Plaza Venezuela and to Paseo Los Próceres.

Last Wednesday, Maduro called on all Venezuelan people to participate in this celebration across the country in Aragua, Carabobo, Cojedes and Yaracuy.

In a national broadcast, Minister of Defense Vladimir Padrino López made a parallel between the country’s past struggles and the current state of the nation. Padrino said the “glorious battle that took place in the fields of Carabobo” was still an important one for Venezuelans in modern times.

He also congratulated members of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), as Saturday also honors soldiers in the National Army Day.