Costa Rica celebrates 70 years without an army

Costa Rica celebrated on Saturday the 70th anniversary of the abolition of its army.

Former President José Figueres Ferrer abolished the armed forces in Costa Rica on Dec. 1, 1948 following the end of the civil war that brought him to power.

Carlos Alvarado, the current President of Costa Rican, commemorated the anniversary during an event at the Plaza de la Democracia in San José.

“It is with enormous honor and pride as a Costa Rican that I partake in this commemoration — one that is unique throughout the world,” Alvarado said. “My heart fills with joy and patriotic love for this country of ours. It is an occasion that unites us with our history and throughout generations.”

Watch Alvarado’s full address below:

“My heart fills with pride as I celebrate today, December 1, the 70th anniversary of the abolition of the army,” Alvarado added in a Facebook post. “Our grandparents were the first generation in the world to know what it was like to live in a country without an army.

“We carry a responsibility that calls us to build a better Costa Rica, for that fourth generation, for our daughters and sons — the great grandchildren of the abolition.”

Read more in The Tico Times from previous celebrations of the anniversary:

The day has served as a Veterans’ Day for a country that has few veterans:

Thanks for reading The Tico Times. We strive to keep you up to date about everything that’s been happening in Costa Rica. We work hard to keep our reporting independent and groundbreaking, but we need your help. The Tico Times is partly funded by you and every little bit helps. If all our readers chipped in a buck a month we’d be set for years.