MEXICO CITY.- Historical flags seized from Ignacio Allende in 1811 and recently recovered from Spain government received homage from the Mexican President Felipe Calderon and his cabinet; he announced that the ensigns used during the Independency will be presented for the first time at Palacio Nacional, as part of the exhibition Mexico 200 años, la patria en construccion (Mexico 200 Years, the Motherland in Construction).

The pair of flags known as “The Twins” was part of Museo del Ejercito de España (Army Museum) in Spain, and after a decade of research and through an agreement, INAH achieved to bring them back to Mexico.

During the ceremony at Campo Militar Marte, the Federal Executive remarked that these flags will be guarded by INAH before their exhibition at Palacio Nacional. “The fact that these flags, used when the liberty struggle began and taken away by the adversary, are back in the homeland, constitutes the closing of a cycle that frames our pride to be Mexicans and represents a fun and exiting way to celebrate the Bicentennial of the Independence”.

The flags were sent in 1814 by Felix Maria Calleja to King Ferdinand VII as war trophies, after winning the Puente de Calderon Battle in January 1811. “We celebrate their return because these military ensigns are the first Mexican flags”, mentioned Calderon.

At the ceremony where more than 1,000 soldiers participated, along with representatives of Judicial and Legislative powers, the general director of INAH, Alfonso de Maria y Campos, remarked that the Institute is proud of have headed negotiations with Museo del Ejercito de España, so the flags could return to its place of origin.

“For INAH it is an honor to contribute to the preservation and research of the first ensigns that guarded and encouraged the great struggles of Mexican people. Insurgent flags return to the people that brandished them, recalling the deeds of those who imagined and constructed a sovereign nation, encouraging us to continue building a more prosperous, democratic and fair Mexico”.

De Maria commented that this year of Centennial and Bicentennial commemorations, INAH is working hard to restore, conserve, protect and study emblematic buildings of the movements that gave us identity.

Museums undergoing renovation are Casa de Hidalgo “Ex Curato de Dolores”, Alhondiga de Granaditas and Francia Chiquita, in Guanajuato, among others, as part of the cultural politic of the federal government.

The INAH officer added that regarding the work of conservation and analysis of the Independence heroes’ osseous rests, “the National Coordination of Cultural Heritage Conservation and the Direction of Physical Anthropology are working on this task that will allow preserving this important part of the cultural heritage that required urgent intervention”, he concluded.