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The President of Navarre, Uxue Barkos, recognized “the example, effort and work of the Navarrese who had to leave Navarre to make a better life for their families,” during the celebration last Saturday in Lekunberri of the 28^th edition of the 'Day of Navarrese living abroad.' The event was attended by nearly 1,000 people.  Barkos thanked everyone for their interest in disseminating the culture of Navarre and its identity. 

Lekunberri, Navarre.  The President participated last Saturday in welcoming nearly 1,000 participants to the festivities at the hall at the Lekunberri City Hall, and embodied in those assembled, “the human example of thousands of Navarran citizens who through the last generations had to leave our land” in this contributing “to the development and social progress of the countries that welcomed them, without denouncing their profound feeling of belonging to Navarre.”  According to a note published by her office, Barkos also thanked Navarrans abroad for their interest in promoting and highlighting the signs of their own identity and that of Navarre by spreading it in the countries where they live.

Uxue Barkos also had words of thanks for the presidents of Navarrese clubs who over the last few months had left their posts after several years of Service: Jose Manuel Echeverria Gutiérrez, from Barakaldo; Antonio Díaz de Cerio, from Logroño; María Luisa Garay, from Valencia; Ana María Escribano, from Valladolid; Marian Busto, from Vitoria-Gasteiz; Rosa Mari Ibáñez, from Zaragoza and the widow of José Luis Lana, who was president of the Hogar Navarro Virgen del Puy in Arrasate-Mondragón.  All were presented a token of her thanks.

Among those attending from the farthest away, as well as being the oldest was Sandalio Monreal who is 85, born in Muez and who immigrated with his family to Argentina when he was only a year and a half old.  Monreal is a well-known person in the Argentine Navarrese clubs and its federation, where he has also served as president, along with being president for 17 years of the Rosario Navarro Club.

After the reception, Barkos attended a txistorra and cider tasting in the streets of Lekunberri with entertainment provided by trikitilaris, as well as an exhibition of herri kirolak in the main plaza.

The festivities also included a welcoming ceremony, for the attendees, with txistularis through the streets of the town, with a mass sung by the local choir, a meal, a dance, as well as visits to the caves of Astitz and other points of touristic and representatives spots in Lekunberri.