September 19th, the day after Independence Day is also a national holiday in Chile. It is effectively the grand finale of the Independence celebrations.
It culminates with the Chilean Armed Forces' Great Military Parade, which recalls the glory of the Chilean Army and takes place in Santiago's O'Higgins Park.
When a new governor-general assumed office in Santiago during the country's Spanish administration, there was a military parade. On September 19th, 1810, the city hosted the First Government Junta's ceremonial inauguration, which included the new nation's first military parade.
The First National Government Junta established Chile's National Army on December 2, 1810.
The Chilean Army Glory Day was founded in 1915. On September 28th, 1819, a parade including all of the country's army formations was organised to commemorate the victory in the Chilean War of Independence.
In 1831, President Joaquin Prieto authorised a military exercise in La Pampilla fields, and in 1842, President Manuel Bulnes bought property in the Pampilla area for yearly military parades, eventually transforming it into a military base in 1845. Luis Cousiño, influenced by European parks, created O'Higgins Park in 1873, including Chilean elements. He asked Manuel Arana to design it, and Arana added the Field of Mars, which has been used in yearly military parades since.
The goal of this holiday is to memorialise all those who fought in Chilean conflicts, whether the country won or lost; the fortitude and bravery of those who defended the country and its population are remembered.
