The Canarian air, laden with salt and history, once again welcomes the firm step of the Spanish Legion on this Armed Forces Day, celebrated in Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where the main events are held. This is not just another parade; it is a significant reunion, an echo of the origins of this unique force, which once again sets foot on the land that was once the crucible where its spirit was forged. On January 17, 1996, the Tercio was transferred from Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura Island) to Almería, where it made its official presentation to the General-in-Chief of the King Alfonso XIII, II Brigade of the Legion, in a ceremony held in the parade ground of the Álvarez de Sotomayor Military Base, remaining established at the aforementioned base.
To understand the resonance of this event, we must go back to the dawn of the Legion. It was in the Canary Islands, specifically in Tenerife and Fuerteventura, where the newly created force, created by then-Commander Millán Astray in 1920, took root. These were not just military bases; they were training centers where the discipline and values we know today as the "Legionary Creed" began to take root. But it wasn't until the creation in 1981 of the Don Juan de Austria Regiment, 3rd of the Legion, based in Fuerteventura, that the corps had a permanent presence on the islands. This unit maintained active detachments until its relocation in the 2000s, as part of the operational restructuring of the Army. Since then, the echo of the legionnaires in the Canary Islands has remained in memory, but never forgotten.
It is difficult to identify individual names without extensive archival research on each Ensign and Company of the era. However, it was the commanders, captains, and sergeants of the Legion's early years in the Canary Islands who had the direct task of instructing and training the first classes of legionaries. They were responsible for applying the Creed, leading the rigorous training sessions, and instilling the spirit of sacrifice and camaraderie in everyday life. Although their names rarely reached the general public, their work was fundamental to the unit's cohesion and effectiveness.
In the memories of the Canary Islands, cases such as those of Brigadier Francisco Fadrique and Legionnaire Juan Maderal Oleaga, Laureates of San Fernando for their heroism in the action of Edchera (Sahara, 1958), represent the pinnacle of the Legionary spirit. Although their heroic actions took place outside the Canary Islands, it is highly likely that their initial training and the rooting of the Creed occurred at a time when the Legion had a strong training presence on the islands. Their example of valor is a reflection of the principles instilled in the early stages of the Legion.
The daily routine on these islands, under an often relentless sun and on terrain that demanded harshness, shaped the first legionaries. Here they learned to march, to endure, and to forge the cohesion that would make them unique. The Puerto del Rosario Barracks, Fuerteventura, in particular, stood for decades as a symbol of this intense training, witnessing thousands of men pass through, preparing for future challenges from the austerity of its facilities. It was in these lands that the theory of shock infantry became a tangible reality, where the concept of the Legion took shape in its men.
From the Canary Islands, the Legion departed for the places that would write its most famous pages in North Africa. However, despite the subsequent transfers of its main units to the Peninsula, and to Ceuta and Melilla, the bond with the islands was never completely broken. The Canary Islands have always been a point of reference for many legionaries, a place to which some have returned after their service, keeping the connection alive.
The presence of the Legion on these islands for such a significant date is more than a military parade. It is a recognition of that shared history, of the importance the archipelago had in shaping one of the most emblematic units of the Spanish Armed Forces. It is a demonstration that, despite the passage of time and logistical changes, the memory of its origins and the Legionary spirit remain unchanged. Watching the Legion parade in the Canary Islands is like witnessing a living part of Spanish military history. It is a reminder of the dedication, discipline, and camaraderie that have defined this force for more than a century. A worthy tribute on Armed Forces Day that underscores the respect and recognition of its history.
