TThe Executive Branch of the Dominican government promulgated Law 154-08, approved by Congress, which officially declares May 19th as the “Day of the Democratic Soldier,” in remembrance of Rafael Tomás Fernández Domínguez, the constitutionalist colonel and hero in the war of April 1965.

The new law describes the behavior and example set Colonel Fernández Domínguez while attempting to garner respect for the Constitution of the Republic, the Armed Forces Law and the will of the people which they expressed democratically at the voting polls in the year 1962.

The new law describes the behavior and example set Colonel Fernández Domínguez while attempting to garner respect for the Constitution of the Republic, the Armed Forces Law and the will of the people which they expressed democratically at the voting polls in the year 1962. Other members of the military also believed in a Dominican democracy as an important model for current and future generations.

The law calls for a Permanent Commission of Efemérides Patrias will act as coordinator and promoter of the activities for the promotion and diffusion of the figure of the Constitutionalist Colonel Fernández Domínguez, according to the press release from the President’s Office of Information, Press and Publicity.

The law stipulates that the Permanent Commission of Efemérides Patrias will be part of civic and social activities to be used for promotion and diffusion of Colonel Fernández Domínguez who died on May 19, 1965 in a heroic battle for the National Palace against invading North American forces.

The promulgation of the law will also underscore the Colonel’s democratic conviction which was the inspiration for the civic military movement that was seeking to reestablish the constitutionality lost in 1963

Since the beginning of his exemplar life, Fernández Domínguez stressed respect for the institution of the Armed Forces and the belief that its members should respond to clear and defined principles and to remain subordinate to the democratic government and legitimately constituted authorities.

The law establishes that his actions and work and that of the young army officers and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the return to democracy and constitutionality constitute a genuine demonstration of love of liberty for all people and a constant example of for current and future generations of Dominicans who believe in a better future for everyone.