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Activities for Venezuela's Bicentennial Celebrations began with authorities of all branches of government and of the Military High Command hoisting the Venezuelan flag at Simon Bolivar Plaza in Caracas, paying tribute to the Liberator, Simón Bolívar.

Next came the opening of a coffer containing Venezuela's original Declaration of Independence at a ceremony held at the Federal Legislative Palace. Venezuelan Minister of the Interior and Justice, Tareck El Aissami, gave to Venezuela's Vice President Elías Jaua the keys of the chest and the documents will be on display at the National Assembly until next July 15.

At 10 a.m. a grand civic and military parade numbering 12,475 participants marked the Bicentennial Celebrations today at "Paseo de los Proceres" (Avenue of the Heroes) in Caracas. General Carlos Alcalá opened the parade by greeting President Chavez who due to his health, watched the parade from the presidential Palace at Miraflores. General Alcalá introduced the march as:

"Bolivarian, socialist, revolutionary, anti-imperialist, trained and equipped combatants joined by the people's power and representatives of 21 countries of the great homeland. Socialist Homeland or Death!"

Men and women in Venezuela's National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) presented the country's national defense in thrilling and complex marching formations. The parade displayed: armored personnel carriers, T-72 tanks, BM-P Infantry Combat Vehicles, PTR-80 armored vehicles; GRAD, 122-mm rocket launchers; T-72 tanks; MI-17B-5, MI-35 and MI-26 Russian-made choppers; Sukhoi-MK2 and Sukhoi30-MK2 aircraft. Flyovers by the Venezuelan Air Force with aerial salutes punctuated the parade throughout the day.

The marches also featured troops and civilians from most Latin American and Caribbean countries, and with military delegations from China, Russia and Belarus.

The Venezuelan Symphonic Orchestra , conducted by Gustavo Dudamel played and more than 400 indigenous people from various ethnic groups and over 30,000 people from all walks of life participated.

From Miraflores, President Chavez exclaimed,

"What a sweeping patriotic passion! What a bicentennial celebration! Look at the people! Look at the soldiers! Being a soldier of Simón Bolívar's people is a cause for pride!"

The following photos from Venezuela Noticias 24 provide a glimpse of the scope of the parade and the spirit of the participants.

- Les Blough in Venezuela

Go to Page 1 for More Photos - Venezulea Military Marches
for 200th Anniversary of Independence from Spanish Rule

Source: Venezuela Noticias 24