Soldier's Day in Brazil (25/08)

Every year on August 25, Brazil celebrates Soldier's Day (Dia do Soldado) — is a holiday of the Brazilian army, celebrated on the birthday of the military commander-in-chief of the Brazilian army, Marshal Luis Alves de Lima e Silva.

Luis Alves de Lima e Silva (August 25, 1803 — May 7, 1880) was declared patron of the Brazilian army in 1961. For his services in the military campaign in Paraguay in 1869 he received the title Duke of Caxias. The Brazilian cities of Duque de Caxias and Caxias do Sul are named in his honor.

Paying tribute to the Duke's services to the Brazilian army, in 1923 his birthday was declared a holiday — Soldier's Day.

The army also recognized his services to the Fatherland by making «on one of the greatest Brazilians of all time, devoting more than 60 years of impeccable service to his nation as a politician and government manager. And also that he was a soldier of social stability and an integrator of the sovereignty of the Brazilian Empire».

Since 1931, cadets of the Brazilian Military Academy (Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras) have worn a copy of Caxias' checkers. The academy also hosts a «Little Checkers» — military parade in honor of academy graduates.

During the twentieth century, this date lost its popularity. And although Soldier's Day is currently no longer a public holiday and a national day off, it continues to be a «professional» holiday — on this day, congratulations are received by military personnel of the Brazilian ground forces — of one of the branches of the country's Armed Forces.

In general, the Brazilian Armed Forces (port. Forças Armadas do Brasil) consists of ground forces, navy (which includes marines and naval aviation) and air force.

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