Duarte's birthday

[NewsWhore]

On Saturday, 26 January, Dominicans celebrate the 195th anniversary of Juan Pablo Duarte's birth. Duarte was one of the DR's three founding fathers who together with Francisco del Rosario Sanchez and Ramon Matias Mella, formed the La Trinitaria underground movement, which led to Dominican independence from Haitian rule. The date is a holiday in the Dominican Republic. Although Duarte himself was exiled to Venezuela shortly before Dominican independence was declared in 1844, he was asked to take the presidency, a position he refused on basic principle. He died in exile in 1876 and his body was returned to the DR in 1884. The Justicia Global y el Movimiento Restaurador Duartiano social-political group will be marching in honor of the national hero. Government sponsored events will begin at 8am with full military processions and singing of the National Anthem.

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