ARSOUTH observes Chile’s Independence Day

Photo By Sgt. Tamika Exom | Chilean Col. Luis Chamorro and his wife, Carmen Campos, cut a commemorative cake with Maj. Gen. Simeon G. Trombitas in celebration of Chile’s Independence Day Sept. 15 at the ARSOUTH headquarters.  

SAN ANTONIO, TX, UNITED STATES

10.15.2011

Story by Sgt. Tamika Exom 

U.S. Army South

FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas - U.S. Army South commemorated Chile’s Independence Day and Armed Forces Day in a ceremony Sept. 15 at U.S. Army South headquarters here. The ceremony included a presentation by Col. Luis Chamorro, Chilean foreign liaison officer at ARSOUTH.

Chile traditionally celebrates its Independence Day and Armed Forces Day consecutively with big fanfare, love of culture, dancing, and food sampling that is described as a four-day-long party that begins with an Inauguration of the Funda by the president of Chile. Funda refers to the place where the people go to dance, taste food and party from Friday until Monday.

Because food is such a large part of Chile’s celebration, there were some traditional Chilean dishes prepared for the Army South staff.

“My wife, she loves to cook,” said Chamorro. “This week she was cooking our Chilean empanada made with pino, which is Spanish for pine, but is made with meat, onion, egg, and a special ingredient that [gives it a] special Chilean flavor. She also prepared a Chilean cake, Mil Ojas cake, which means 1000 leaves, but it’s [actually] made with manjar, also known as dulce de leche. The manjar has to be prepared; the ingredient isn’t available here,” said Chamorro.

During his time aT Army South, Chamorro said he has notice many similarities between the Chilean and U.S. Army.

“Despite our obvious differences in language or culture we are more alike in so many ways,” said Chamorro. “[The Chilean] army, just as your army, has fought and won many wars in order to get our independence. Chile is trying to be a great country with good relationships with all other nations in our area [as well as] the rest of the world. I think we have a lot of things in common in order to strengthen our relationship between our countries with our armies.”

Chile celebrates its independence from Spain on the date the country’s fight for freedom began Sept. 18, 1810. Chile celebrates Armed Forces Day the day after their Independence Day Sept. 19, 1810.

• Date Taken: 10.15.2011
• Date Posted: 01.19.2012 14:46
• Story ID: 82576
• Location: SAN ANTONIO, TX, US