Shipmates,
Today marks the 199th Anniversary of Mexican independence. On the evening of the 15th of September, 1810, Father Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and others challenged the local Spanish government in the State of Guanajuato. In the morning of the 16th he rang a bell at the town church in Delores, MX, and called for rebellion. The act was the Mexican equivalent of our "shot heard 'round the world."
Civilian and military leaders from around the world have gathered in Mexico City to celebrate Father Hidalgo's Cry for Independence, "El Grito." It is also an opportunity to meet and discuss issues of mutual interest for many of our joint and international partners.
Here with me from the United States are General Gene Renuart, Commander, U.S. Northern Command and General Douglas Faser, Commander, U.S. Southern Command. Other seniors U.S. military leaders include VADM Rich Hunt, U.S. Third Fleet, RADM Dan Lloyd, Joint Interagency Task Force South, and RADM Moira Flanders, Inter-America Defense College. Our team also included Kirsten Madison, Coast Guard Director of International Affairs.
International attendees include ADM Guillermo Barrerra, Colombian Navy, Director General Martin Arias, Costa Rican Coast Guard, RADM Jorge Ibarra, Chilean Navy, CAPT Guillermo Jimenez, El Salvador Navy, RADM Juan Santiago, Nicaraguan Navy, Commissioner Rigoberto Gordon, Panama National Naval Air Service, General Ramon Espinosa, Cuban Armed Forces, and CAPT Mauricio Ertreo, Italian Naval Attache.
Our host has been ADM Mariano Saynez, Secretary of the Navy of Mexico and his staff. They have been gracious hosts.
Highlights of the many events taking place include:
1. Memorial Ceremony at the "Monument to the Boy Heroes" which commemorates military cadets who were killed defending Chapultepec Hill in Mexico City in 1847.
2. Visits to the National Anthropology Museum.
3. Office calls and discussions with the Secretary of the Navy. Working lunches with Mexican and U.S. counterparts
4. Meetings with U.S. Ambassador Pascual and his country team.
5. Mariachi concert at the National Art Museum.
6. The final "El Grito de Indepencia" Ceremony at the National Palace.
We have also been able to meet with our hemispheric partners and discuss our common challenges including counter drug operations and migrant interdiction. I also met and had an extended conversation with Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources Juan Elvira. A major topic was our current work on the President's Interagency Task Force on Ocean Policy.
Finally, there have been many opportunities for informal conversations on a wide range of topics. I have especially appreciated the time to talk with Generals Renuart and Fraser and VADM Rick Hunt (3rd Fleet).
ADM A
