The Arrecife City Council held an official ceremony on Thursday night at La Recova to present the first honorary medals awarded during this term by the local government led by Mayor Yonathan de León. These medals recognise the contributions, value, and careers of members of the Arrecife Civil Protection Group, Local Police officer and Technical Coordinator of Civil Protection, Marco Antonio Galindo, and Local Police officer and head of the Civil Protection Group, Osbaldo Espino Delgado.
A broad representation of civil and military authorities from Lanzarote attended the award ceremony, alongside family members and colleagues from the police forces and other Civil Protection groups in Lanzarote.
Mayor’s Remarks
Mayor Yonathan de León, who is directly responsible for activating the Municipal Emergency Plans (PEMU), emphasised during the event that “Arrecife is modernising and transforming during this term. Civil Protection is one of the Municipal Areas that will experience significant advancements, with increased resources and investments.” The Mayor encouraged Civil Protection members to “continue together, inspiring more professionals and individuals who feel the pride and desire to belong and collaborate with Civil Protection. Future recruits will be welcomed.”
The Mayor elaborated on the many merits of Civil Protection, along with Police officers Osbaldo Espino and Marcos Antonio Rosario, and expressed recognition for the immediate families of these distinguished individuals, who received the highest honour of the City of Arrecife, as set out in the Regulations of Honours and Distinctions.
“Today, Arrecife, with this institutional act—underscored the Mayor—also wishes for gratitude to extend to the families of each of you. I wish to commend the commitment of those who dedicate their time to others, often at the expense of their own family, friends, and hobbies. We are, from the bottom of our hearts, and I say this loudly, very grateful to your families, to each one of you, to those who are here, those who have been here, and those who will come. A society striving to advance relies on the strength of volunteers. They always give what they have and bring value to actions that are carried out and needed.”
Highlights from the Ceremony
The Councillor for Security and Emergencies of Arrecife, the municipal area to which the Civil Protection Group belongs, mentioned during his speech—preceded by two videos showcasing the significant work carried out by Civil Protection—”the pride and prestige that the volunteer group enjoys, as well as Galindo and Espino Delgado, whose expertise makes the Arrecife Civil Protection Unit one of the most qualified.”
Cortés, a proponent of these honours at the council meeting, detailed the new acquisitions to strengthen and enhance the services of this group, including new vehicles and ongoing training.
The councillor highlighted the humanitarian aspect of Civil Protection members, whose unrelenting dedication is invaluable. The only reward and the most precious is the personal satisfaction of each individual for helping when emergencies arise, such as the evacuations during the volcanic eruptions in La Palma, the humanitarian aid deployments to those affected by Dana in Valencia, and assistance to the city’s residents during severe floods, like those in April, which affected several families in the outskirts of Lanzarote’s capital.
Awards Presented
On behalf of the Arrecife Civil Protection Group, the scroll and Gold Medal of the City of Arrecife were received from the Mayor by Náyade Medina de León. Police officer Marcos Antonio Rosario Galindo, a member of the Municipal Emergency Plan drafting team and Technical Coordinator of Civil Protection in Arrecife, received the bronze medal, as did his colleague Osbaldo Espino Delgado, head of the Civil Protection Group. Each member of the volunteer group was called to the stage to receive the insignia of the Civil Protection Medal from the Mayor.
The event, hosted by journalist and protocol expert María de Pino Fuentes, featured a performance by the classical violin duo consisting of Iya Zhmaeva and Diego Bermúdez, as well as musical accompaniment from Alexis Lemes and Sara Bermúdez, blending Canary Island melodies with the sounds of the timple.
