«As always happens to me, today I feel that my institutional task is aligned and connected with the general feeling of our society. We Spaniards appreciate, support, respect and admire our Armed Forces”, said Queen Letizia this morning in Cartagena, “a city linked and committed to the Navy, for so long”.
Doña Letizia traveled to Cartagena to sponsor the act of delivery of the Spanish flag to the Special Naval Warfare Force (FGNE). There she was received by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles Fernández, together with the President of the Region of Murcia, Fernando López Miras; the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Antonio Martorell Lacave and the Commander of the Special Naval Warfare Force, Domingo Manuel García Nieto.
After receiving Ordinance Honors, Doña Letizia reviewed the troops, accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Navy, the Chief of the Military Quarter and the Chief of the Honors Unit. After the intervention of Robles – who recognized the work of the Armed Forces, contributing to “national defense” – the Queen affirmed that “delivering the flag to the Special Naval Warfare Force means valuing that commitment that you speak of in your motto, a serene and audacious commitment that, without a doubt, means that the men and women who make up this special operations unit sign that commitment»: «We are aware of how demanding your preparation has been and of the extreme conditions in that you work for, that is why we are always indebted to you, to the 187 troops ready at all times to carry out complex and delicate missions that contribute to the maintenance of peace and security».
The Queen also reminded those members who could not be present today at the event «because they were, precisely, fulfilling their mission, our memory and the wish that they return home, very soon, without incident and with their duty fulfilled. To everyone’s families, my appreciation and love for your support and understanding. Thank you for this warm welcome and for making this day an exemplary and necessary meeting around one of the symbols that unite all Spaniards, our flag.
The FGNE is the current special forces unit of the Navy. It was created on June 10, 2009 on the basis of the Special Unit of Combat Divers (UEBC) and the Special Operations Unit (UOE) of the Marine Infantry Brigade (BRIMAR) of the Third Army (TEAR). Being relatively new, this unit does not have a battle flag. His motto is ‘Serenitas et Audacia’ (serenity in the face of danger). Among the missions carried out, his participation during the kidnapping of the Alakrana in 2009 stands out; as well as the rescue of the French citizen Evelyne Colombo in the waters of the Indian Ocean in 2011.
