| El Salvador's Soldiers' Day: May 7, 2010 Soldiers' Day | | | | people, individual independence of each province |
| is a public holiday in El Salvador. | | | | became an important goal of the areas. |
| Every year on the 7th of May. El Salvador marks the | | | | The Armed Forces of El Salvador is composed of the |
| founding of its armed forces in 1824. | | | | Army, the Air Force and the Navy which was |
| History of El Salvador's Soldiers' Day | | | | reestablished in 1952 after 40 years of absence. The |
| The Fuerza Armada de El Salvador or the Armed | | | | event that leads to the creation of the armed forces is |
| Forces was established in 1840 after the dissolution of | | | | now known as Soldiers' Day. |
| the United Provinces of Central America. | | | | El Salvador's Soldiers' Day: Traditions, Customs and |
| With the other countries of Central America, the nation | | | | Activities |
| declared its independence from Spain on Sept. 15, 1821, | | | | Soldiers' Day is celebrated with grand parade among |
| and was part of a federation of Central American | | | | the members of the Armed Forces. Celebrations and |
| states until that union dissolved in 1838. | | | | ceremonial activities follow where relatives and friends |
| Independence has been a tradition even through the | | | | of members of the soldiers are allowed to attend. The |
| many revolutions that have governed the nation. | | | | day is a celebration for the soldiers of the military with |
| Military dictatorship was the rule of government from | | | | parades of the divisions of active soldiers and retired |
| 1931 to 1979. | | | | soldiers. The parades are followed by a ceremony |
| In 1969, El Salvador invaded Honduras after Honduran | | | | and celebrations at each military base throughout the |
| landowners deported several thousand Salvadorans. | | | | country. Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate |
| The four-day war became known as the "football | | | | together with the military forces stationed throughout |
| war" because it broke out during a soccer game | | | | the country. |
| between the two countries. | | | | Today, the prosperity so each country is dependent on |
| The United Provinces of Central America was a | | | | the other country in the area. As each country in the |
| central American sovereign state which has a brief | | | | Latin American region struggles with the challenges of |
| existence from 1823 to 1840. It included the following | | | | economic stability, the people take much pride in their |
| countries in Central America: El Salvador, Honduras, | | | | heritage and national achievements. But, traditionally the |
| Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua. With the | | | | borders of the area continue to be in dispute and have |
| nationalism of each region being important to each | | | | required outside intervention to settle border conflicts. |