The Arrecife City Council held an official ceremony last night at La Recova to present the first honorary medals awarded during this term by the municipal government led by Mayor Yonathan de León. These medals recognised the contributions, value, and track record of members of the Arrecife Civil Protection Group, including Marco Antonio Galindo, the local police officer and technical coordinator of Civil Protection, and Osbaldo Espino Delgado, head of the Civil Protection Group.
A wide representation of civil and military authorities from Lanzarote attended the event, which was also supported by family members and colleagues from the police and other Civil Protection groups across the island.
Mayor’s Address
Mayor Yonathan de León, who is directly responsible for activating municipal emergency plans (PEMUs), emphasised during the ceremony that, “Throughout this term, Arrecife is modernising and transforming. Civil Protection is one of the municipal areas that will make significant progress, with increased resources and investments.” The Mayor encouraged members of Civil Protection, stating, “Let us continue together, encouraging more professionals and individuals who feel proud and eager to belong to and collaborate with Civil Protection. Future recruits will be warmly welcomed.”
Acknowledgements to Families
While detailing the many merits of Civil Protection and officers Osbaldo Espino and Marcos Antonio Rosario, the Mayor also acknowledged the families of the awardees recognised with the highest distinction from the City of Arrecife, in accordance with the Regulations on Honours and Distinctions.
“Today, Arrecife wishes that gratitude extends to the families of each of you. I commend the dedication of those who devote their time to others, often taking time away from their families, friends, and hobbies. We are sincerely grateful to your families, to each of you who are here, those who have been, and those who will come. A society looking to advance requires the strength of volunteers who always give what they have and value what is done and needed,” emphasised the Mayor.
Recognition of Contributions
The councillor for Security and Emergencies, under which the Civil Protection Group operates, expressed pride in the reputation enjoyed by the volunteers’ group, Galindo, and Espino Delgado, whose skills contribute to making Arrecife’s Civil Protection Unit one of the most qualified.
Cortés, a proponent of these distinctions, elaborated on the new acquisitions aimed at strengthening and improving the services of the group through new vehicle purchases and continuous training.
Humanitarian Efforts
The councillor highlighted, in a press release, the humanitarian aspect of Civil Protection members, whose unwavering dedication cannot be monetarily compensated. The only reward, and the most valuable, is the personal satisfaction each member gains from helping when needed in emergencies. Notably, the Canary Islands have experienced several such situations, including evacuations due to the volcanic eruptions in La Palma, humanitarian aid deployments for victims of the Dana in Valencia, and assistance for residents during severe flooding, like that which affected several families in the outskirts of Lanzarote’s capital last April.
Awards Ceremony
On behalf of the Arrecife Civil Protection Group, Náyade Medina de León received the parchment and the Gold Medal of the City of Arrecife from the Mayor. Police officer Marcos Antonio Rosario Galindo, who contributed to the drafting of Arrecife’s Municipal Emergency Plan and serves as the technical coordinator for Civil Protection, received the Bronze Medal alongside his colleague, Osbaldo Espino Delgado. Each volunteer member was called to the stage to receive the Civil Protection Medal from the Mayor.
The event, presented by journalist and protocol expert María de Pino Fuentes, featured a performance by the classical violin duo Iya Zhmaeva and Diego Bermúdez, accompanied by musicians Alexis Lemes and Sara Bermúdez, blending Canarian melodies with the sound of the timple.
