With an average wind chill of 24 degrees throughout the afternoon and the presence of the emblematic frigate ARA “Libertad”, an open day was held at the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base (BNPB), which was attended by about 10,000 people from Punta Alta, Bahía Blanca and the area.
The day began at 1 p.m., when the attending public entered the dock of the base to visit each of the Navy ships moored there, in addition to boarding Marine Corps vehicles and touring the different exhibitions and stands located in the Plaza Armas “Frigate Captain Sergio Gómez Roca”.
Long lines of people formed at the foot of the naval units, especially the training ship, which is getting ready for its next Training Trip.
In addition to the ships of the Sea Fleet, visitors were also able to visit the ARA “Piedrabuena” ocean patrol boat, one of the most modern units that the Navy has, and which has a regular station at the Mar del Plata Naval Base.
“We come every time there are open doors because we love the frigate and one is always left wanting more,” said Diego, from Punta Alta. For his part, Eduardo, who said that he has been retired from the Institution for almost a decade, confessed: “I come to remember old times. It is an opportunity to show my granddaughters the ships I was on.”
Claudia and Rubén are also from Puntaltensa and were “fascinated” with the exhibitions of the Naval Aviation Museum and the vehicles of the Marine Infantry Battalion No. 2. “Everything has its story,” they remarked. “Who in the city does not know a Malvinas Veteran? Who has not heard a story from a retiree at some time?”
Pablo and Belén arrived from Mayor Buratovich, in the district of Médanos: “We are impressed by how big all this is. We knew that there were many ships, but seeing them all, being able to go up, having them explain what they do or seeing a helicopter up close is beautiful.”
People were also interested in the tent of the Puerto Belgrano Naval Hospital, where Naval Health personnel gave talks on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), or in the stands where the options for incorporation into the Navy were disseminated.
“My children were waiting all week to come. We took an Uber from Bahia to meet the Argentine Navy and its people; everyone was very kind with their explanations,” said Erwin, a Venezuelan resident in Bahía Blanca.
Laura also arrived from neighboring Bahia, accompanied by her sisters and relatives from Buenos Aires who were surprised by what they were able to see: “We had never seen the frigate in person; always on television or the networks. It’s majestic, as they say.”
“We liked the skills of the Battalion’s dogs. We had already seen them a few years ago and the little ones love them,” said Emmanuel, a resident of Bahía Blanca, in reference to the exhibition of the War Dogs Group that took place in the middle of the afternoon.
After the canine skills, the lines to board and tour the frigate and the warships were nourished more and more by visitors. Around 5 p.m., the BNPB Music Band arrived at the parade ground, which performed military pieces and closed its performance with the March of the Navy and the March of Malvinas.
The day ended at 6:30 p.m. with the lowering of the National Pavilion from the main mast of the main square of the Sea Fleet, and with a highly positive balance for both the Institution and the visitors, who saw their expectations fulfilled on a different Saturday afternoon.