Mayor Yonathan de León emphasised that “a society that wants to progress needs the strength of Volunteers. They always give what they have and value what is done and what is needed.”
The Arrecife City Council held an institutional ceremony last 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, bravery, and dedication of members of the Arrecife Civil Protection Group, the Local Police officer and technical coordinator of Civil Protection, Marco Antonio Galindo, and the chief of the Civil Protection Group, Osbaldo Espino Delgado.
A wide representation of civil and military authorities from Lanzarote accompanied the recipients, who were also supported by their families and colleagues from the police forces and other Civil Protection groups in Lanzarote.
Modernising Emergency Services
Mayor Yonathan de León, directly responsible for activating the Municipal Emergency Plans (PEMU), highlighted at the event that “During this term, Arrecife is modernising and transforming. Civil Protection is one of the municipal areas that will experience significant advancements, with more resources and investments.” The mayor encouraged the members of Civil Protection to “continue together, inspiring more professionals, more individuals, to feel the pride and desire to belong to and collaborate with Civil Protection. Future recruits will be most welcome.”
During his speech, in which he elaborated on the numerous merits of Civil Protection and the police officers Osbaldo Espino and Marcos Antonio Rosario, the mayor expressed his gratitude to the families of the awarded individuals, who received the highest distinction from the City of Arrecife, as specified in the Regulations of Honours and Distinctions.
Gratitude to Families and Volunteers
“Today, Arrecife, through this institutional act—emphasised the mayor—also wishes for gratitude to extend to the families of each one of you. I want to commend the commitment of those who dedicate their time to others, taking time away from their families, friends, and hobbies. We are deeply grateful to your families, to each one of you, to those present, to those who have been, and to those who will come. A society that wants to progress needs the strength of Volunteers. They always give what they have and value what is done and what is needed.”
The Councillor for Security and Emergencies of Arrecife, which oversees the Civil Protection Group, showcased the pride in the reputation of the volunteer group and its members, Galindo and Espino Delgado, whose knowledge makes the Arrecife Civil Protection Unit one of the most qualified.
Cortés, a driving force behind the awards, detailed new acquisitions aimed at strengthening and enhancing the services of this group, including new vehicles and ongoing training.
The councillor highlighted the altruistic nature of Civil Protection members, whose unwavering dedication is invaluable. The only reward, and the most significant, is the personal satisfaction each experiences when helping in emergency situations, such as during the evacuations due to the La Palma volcano eruptions, the humanitarian aid deployments to victims of the Dana in Valencia, for which assistance was mobilised from Arrecife Civil Protection, and support for residents during severe flooding incidents, like those that affected several families in the outskirts of Arrecife last April.
A Night of Recognition
On behalf of the Arrecife Civil Protection Group, Náyade Medina de León received the City of Arrecife’s Gold Medal and certificate from the mayor. Police officer Marcos Antonio Rosario Galindo, a member of the Municipal Emergency Plan drafting team and technical coordinator of Arrecife Civil Protection, received the bronze medal along with his colleague, Osbaldo Espino Delgado, the head of the Civil Protection Group. Each member of the volunteer group 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 performances by the classical violin duo Iya Zhmaeva and Diego Bermúdez, alongside the musical accompaniment of Alexis Lemes and Sara Bermúdez, blending Canarian melodies with the sound of the timple.
