Rui Moreira receives Friends of the Brazilian Navy medal

The mayor, Rui Moreira, received on Thursday, on behalf of the city of Porto, the Friend of the Brazilian Navy medal, a distinction that aims to reward civilians and military personalities from other areas and institutions who have stood out in the work of promoting the maritime mentality, in the relationship with the Brazilian Navy, in defending its interests and in promoting the importance of the sea for the country.

The Friend of the Navy Medal was given by Rear Admiral Alexandre Pavoni, director of the Navy Social Communication Center, on behalf of the Commander of the Brazilian Navy, the Fleet Admiral, Marcos Sampaio Olsen.

This distinction “recognizes Porto’s historical relationship with the sea. A relationship built throughout the centuries, crossing many generations, involving several activities, professions, and sectors”, said the mayor.

“The sea is one of Porto’s most powerful identity elements. The geographic convergence with the Atlantic Ocean resulted in a wide range of activities and traditions, habits and beliefs, values and memories linked to the sea in the city. Maritime culture and tradition are very present in what Porto was yesterday, in what Porto is today and in what Porto will be tomorrow”, added Rui Moreira.

Recalling King Pedro and the Liberal Revolution of 1820

Beyond the sea, there are historical bonds that unite the city of Porto with Brazil. The mayor recalled the Liberal Revolution in 1820, an event that led to the establishment of the foundations of the modern State both in Porto and Brazil.

“King Pedro IV of Portugal and first emperor of Brazil had a great complicity with the city of Porto, forged in the battles for the liberal cause. A complicity that lasts until the present symbolized by King Pedro’s heart deposited in Igreja da Lapa”, stated Rui Moreira, assuring that “the King Soldier” is a symbolic figure of the city and personifies many of its identity values, like freedom, equality, justice or pluralism.

Beyond the historical-cultural bonds, Portugal and Brazil share the world’s second biggest ocean. “The Atlantic Ocean is a common resource that both countries are interested in preserving and valuing, being able to do so more effectively in a bilateral cooperation”, concluded the Mayor.

“Unbreakable historical bonds”

Rear admiral Alexandre Pavoni also highlighted the “unbreakable historical bonds” that unite both nations. “It is impossible to walk through the streets of this historic city of Porto without remembering that, since the 17th century on, countless ships left for Brazil from here, with goods and emigrants, which contributed to the building of character of the Brazilian people!”, he highlighted.

The Navy Social Communication Center director recalled that “the University of Porto has its genesis associated with the maritime mentality”, with the creation, in 1762, of the “nautical class”, by Charter of King José I, and aimed at training pilots and sailors.

“In this historical context, a special thanks to Porto and all its citizens, who, during the celebrations of the Bicentennial of the independence of Brazil, in 2022, allowed the heart of king Pedro to be publicly displayed, in the Brazilian festivities,” added Rear Admiral Alexandre Pavoni.

The ceremony, that took place in Sala D. Maria, was attended by the President of the Municipal Assembly, Councillors from the Executive and other guests, in addition to a Brazilian delegation that also included the Brazilian Navy and Defence attaché in Portugal, Captain of Sea and War, Fábio Hideki, The head of the Navy Social Communication Center Public Relations Department, Frigate Captain Flávio Firmino dos Santos, and the president of the Society of Friends of the Brazilian Navy in Portugal, Artur Victoria.