The Costa Rica News (TCRN) – Costa Rica today celebrated the bicentennial of the birth of former head of state, liberator and national hero, Juan Rafael Mora Porras, with a display of historical documents and a christening in honor of one of the main avenues in San Jose.
The president of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, today unveiled a plaque which named Second Avenue in San Jose as “Avenida del Libertador Juan Rafael Mora”.
Between 1856 and 1857, Mora Porras successfully conducted a campaign against the filibusters headed by William Walker who tried to invade Costa Rica and Central America.
“Today we are proud of that feat. It was not easy to decide, but that ended up being essential, not only for the future of Costa Rica and Central America, but also for mankind who is forever rid of the scourge of slavery” said the president on the war against the filibusters.
Mora Porras, who in 1858 declared compulsory education for all Costa Ricans, was appointed by Parliament as a National Hero in 1950 and liberator and national hero in 2010.
Also last year, the Legislature of Costa Rica approved 2014 as the Year of the Bicentennial for the Liberator Juan Rafael Mora Porras.
As part of this commemoration, a bibliographic exhibition opened called “Juan Rafael Mora: a man, a patriot, a hero,” organized by the Juan Durán Luzio of the National University.
The display includes published works of Mora Porras from 1849 and 1859, including texts and hundreds of books, newspapers, decrees, literary works and documents concerning the time, life and works of the national hero.
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica