Cozumel, Mexico — In commemoration of the Day of the Navy, the Fundación de Parques y Museos de Cozumel (FPMC) inaugurated the exhibition "Historias de Marinos de Cozumel" at the Museo de la Isla. The showcase honors those who have dedicated their lives to navigation, safeguarding the coastline, and fostering the commercial exchange that shaped the island’s port.
A Nautical Legacy Preserved
The exhibition features photographs, nautical artifacts, maps, historical narratives, and scale replicas of vessels, reviving the collective memory of captains, fishermen, divers, naval mechanics, and lighthouse keepers—key figures in Cozumel’s maritime identity.
During the opening ceremony, FPMC Director General Juanita Alonso Marrufo welcomed attendees and emphasized the deep connection between Cozumel’s residents and the sea. She reflected on past generations who relied on trade in copra and chicle, as well as tourism, diving, and fishing—industries that continue to sustain the island’s livelihood.
Recognitions and Acknowledgments
As part of the event, the FPMC presented awards to Captains José Guadalupe Álvarez Sandoval and Alnilam Álvarez Estrada, as well as lifelong island chronicler Veudi Vivas Valdez, for their contributions to the exhibition’s creation.
The ceremony also highlighted the Nuevo Acuerdo por el Bienestar y Desarrollo de Quintana Roo, an initiative led by Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa, which recognized the Mexican Navy’s humanitarian efforts during hurricanes and other climate-related emergencies.
Distinguished Attendees
The event was attended by civil and military authorities, including:
- Rear Admiral José Alberto Rodríguez Cuevas, Commander of the Fifteenth Naval Zone in Cozumel
- Captain Víctor Manuel Lozano Jerezano, Port Captain of Cozumel
- Brigadier General Jesús Bautista Alatorre, Commander of the No. 4 Air Military Base
- Brigadier General Armando Toscano Yáñez, Commander of the Cozumel Military Garrison
- Captain Pedro Mata Cervantes
Also present were FPMC advisors Ana Campos López and Franco González Alcerreca, Museo de la Isla Director Isela Carrillo Cupul, and 2025 Queen of the Navy Ángela Mariana Badillo Rodríguez, who represents the island’s youth connected to the sea.
Cultural Performances
The evening featured performances by the Latin dance group "Bellezas Latinas", led by instructor Guadalupe Pantí, and musical interpretations by the trio "Romance", directed by Argelia Chacón.
Through this exhibition, Cozumel celebrates its maritime heritage, honors its present-day seafarers, and reinforces its identity as an island shaped by the waves, wind, and tireless work of its sailors.
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