MEXICO CITY Jordan Howard Hoodie , Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- About 18,300 soldiers paraded on Saturday through the Zocalo, the main square of Mexico City, as part of the celebrations for the country's Independence Day.
For 90 minutes Mitchell Trubisky Hoodie , soldiers marched below the gaze of President Enrique Pena Nieto, who looked on from the main balcony of the presidential palace, and thousands of onlookers in the streets.
Soldiers held up a giant mosaic of a Mexican flag for the length of the 7.3 km parade from the Zocalo until the Field of Mars, a military camp in Chapultepec Park.
Infantrymen Roquan Smith Hoodie , paratroopers with camouflaged faces, artillery units, coastguards and cadets from the army and navy also showcased their discipline in front of hundreds of families, some of which had arrived up to four hours early to get a good view.
The parade also saw almost 270 tanks and armored vehicles take part Khalil Mack Hoodie , along with 66 planes and helicopters with pilots pulling off maneuvers over the skies of the capital.
Pena Nieto was also accompanied for much of the parade by a group of children, invited for the occasion due to their good results in class.
To mark the scene, 4,800 soldiers also formed a giant mosaic which showed the national flag as well as important moments in Mexican history and its armed forces.
The parade also counted on the presence of federal police and a column from Mexico City firefighters Walter Payton Shirt , who had not taken part in thirty years.
The army was planning a greater number of participants for the annual parade but this was reduced due to around 20,000 soldiers attending the southern states of Oaxaca and Chiapas after an 8.2 earthquake on Sept. 7 killed close to 100 people and left thousands displaced.
"We are with you! Long live Oaxaca! Long live Chiapas," shouted as one the about 5,000 soldiers which formed the giant mosaics at the end of the parade Kevin White Shirt , which sparked an ovation from the crowds.
Senior CPC official stresses cyber security ahead of key Party congress