Under the watchful and emotional gaze of the population, which filled the streets of Santarém, seven vehicles transported the military from the former Practical School of Cavalry (EPC) who, 50 years ago, participated in the operations that dismantled the Estado Novo.

Under the chant "April 25th forever, fascism never again", the military marched through some of the most important streets of Santarém, including the Jardim da Liberdade, where an exhibition about the Portuguese army is on display, and the Jardim dos Cravos, a space built in homage to the captain of April, Fernando Salgueiro Maia.

It was to the sound of the march of the Movement of the Armed Forces that the military entered the vehicles and marched through the streets of the city, always surrounded by the population who, with carnations in hand, applauded and sang songs alluding to the revolution.

The recreation of the military column was part of the theater show "This is the dawn I was waiting for", which recreated the moments leading up to the departure of the military column to Lisbon.

The play, directed by Rita Lello and written by Colonel Correia Bernardo, one of the main people responsible for planning and preparing the military column, portrays the fatigue of war and censorship and the will and determination to end the regime by the military, who were prepared to leave at any moment, as soon as the green light was given.

"This is the realization of something we did with a lump in our throats. The construction that we have been making of the 25th of April is reflected here, on the morning of the 25th", Correia Bernardo told Lusa.

The military column led by Salgueiro Maia included 245 soldiers and was one of the largest forces involved in the coup d'état of April 25, 1974.

With a long way to go, the EPC military left the city of Ribatejo at 03:00, and two and a half hours later they were already at Terreiro do Paço, at the time the headquarters of the main ministries and where the Government could be effectively neutralized.

For the councilor for culture, Nuno Domingos, the recreation represents an attempt to illustrate the presence and importance that the EPC and the army have exerted, and continue to exert, in the city of Santarém.

"This initiative demonstrates the importance that the school has always had in the cafes, cinemas, shows and social life of the city. The large number of military personnel who live in the city, both retired and active, are quite significant, and there is a close and powerful relationship between the city and the army", he told Lusa.

The recreation included the presence of several vehicles, including the Panhard EBR, Panhard AML, Humber MKIV, Chaimite V200 armored vehicles, Berliet Tramagal troop transport vehicles, Unimog 404, Ambulance V, Jeep CJ6 command vehicle and the Ford Escort civilian vehicle that followed, at the time of the events, at the front of the column, in reconnaissance.

The celebrations began at 9:00 pm on Wednesday with the projection of a 'video mapping' show on the facade of the EPC telling the story of the Portuguese army from the end of the empire to April 25th.

The projection featured photographs by Alfredo Cunha, music by Rodrigo Leão, and drawings by Vhils, and was simultaneously held in Lisbon, Porto, Matosinhos and Santarém.

Read Also: "Lisbon celebrates April in Freedom". Here are the images of the celebration (Portuguese version)