On November 20th, as part of the commemoration of the 180th anniversary of the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado, the Malvinas War Veterans Center of Puerto Madryn held a significant ceremony that united the historic feat for National Sovereignty with the living memory of the Malvinas heroes.

The main event was the unveiling of the new scale model of the ARA General Belgrano cruiser , the ship that was torpedoed on May 2, 1982, causing the tragic loss of 323 Argentinians. The replica, masterfully completed by Santiago Pereira and begun by Guadalupe Andurell before being donated for display, will enrich the Center's collection and its future museum.

A tribute that transcends the date

The event, which was attended by the Mayor of the city, Gustavo Sastre , relatives of the victims of the Belgrano, and Madryn veterans, was presided over by Daniel Belmar , president of the Center and municipal director of veterans, and Professor Jorge Andurell .

In his speech, Daniel Belmar highlighted the importance of November 20, not only as a reminder of the Battle of Vuelta de Obligado – the heroic resistance of 1845 against the Anglo-French fleet that sought to navigate the Paraná River without authorization – but as a pillar of a broader project.

"More than five years ago, the decision was made at the city hall to develop an annual Malvinas agenda," Belmar stated. "From the Municipal Directorate of War Veterans, we accepted this challenge, in a city with a significant tourist presence, and to develop themes so that veterans and their families could explore our city."

This concept, summarized in the motto "Malvinize all year round", seeks to integrate the Malvinas Cause into the urban identity and tourist proposal of Puerto Madryn.

Sovereignty: a comprehensive concept

The president of the Veterans Center emphasized the comprehensive nature of sovereignty, extending beyond territorial defense. "Sovereignty encompasses everything: for us, it was the defense of our territory, but all of our territory, our economy, our wealth, our health. Sovereignty is everything," he stated.

The unveiling of the scale model served as a profound tribute to the fallen. Belmar especially thanked the families for their presence, noting that collective effort is key to keeping their memory alive: "There are many people who join in, who don't have set hours or weekends," he affirmed, highlighting the collaboration of the community and various institutions in making each commemoration a reality.

The display of the ARA General Belgrano model on this new anniversary of National Sovereignty Day reinforces the link between Argentina's various historical struggles for self-determination, and ensures that the sacrifice of the 323 crew members will never be forgotten.