The Red Cross will set off the Txupinazo opening rocket for Sanfermin 2014 in recognition of the 150th anniversary of their foundation. The Navarra association of the Red Cross is the oldest in Spain, as it was founded on the 5th of July, 1864, one day earlier than the rest of the country, precisely so as not to coincide with the opening day of San Fermin fiestas on the 6th of July. The Mayor of Pamplona, Enrique Maya, made the official announcement this morning in a year when it was the turn of the nationalist party, Bildu to set off the rocket by designation. According to what we have learned from El Informador the person responsible for lighting the wick will be Mikel Martínez, who is president of the local Navarra committee of The Red Cross.
In addition to the fact that it is the 150th anniversary of the Foundation of the Red Cross, we have also been receiving messages at Sanfermin.com from numerous people stating their wish to see The Red Cross launching the opening rocket because of the important role this organization played in helping the runners after the pile-up crush in the running of the bulls on the 13th of July, 2013. According to a statement from Pamplona City hall there exists “an agreement with regard to the whole area of civil protection which is annually signed by Pamplona City hall and The Red Cross” which means that this entity is always on hand during fiestas and forms part of the security network designated for some of the key events in fiestas such as the Chupinazo, the Pobre de Mí closing event or the Runnings of the Bulls, among many other events.
