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Juan Santamaria

While traveling recently in Costa Rica I was reminded again that the greatest heroes are usually the common and ordinary people who do extraordinary things.

In the mid-19th century, Central America was threatened by a group of American mercenaries, led by William Walker.

These men had illegal ambitions to establish a slave-holding empire in Central America.

Led by William Walker, they seized control of Nicaragua in 1856. Walker declared himself its president and sought to extend his influence to neighboring countries, including Costa Rica.

Costa Rica declared war and rallied its people to fight.

It is believed that Juan Santamaria left his mother in Alajuela and joined the army as a drummer boy. He was not called to fight, but to sound the call.

The conflict came to a stalemate in the town of Rivas, Nicaragua on April 11, 1856.

Walker’s forces fortified themselves in the Meson de Guerra building, making it difficult for the Costa Rican army to advance.

As the Costa Rican forces struggled to break through the enemy’s defenses, the soldiers recognized that the only way to defeat Walker’s troops was to set the building on fire where the mercenaries had taken cover.

Several soldiers were asked to volunteer for the dangerous mission of approaching the building with a torch to set it ablaze.

It is reported that several soldiers attempted but were killed or wounded.

Juan Santamaría stepped forward, but before setting out, asked his comrades to take care of his mother if he did not survive.

Across open ground, exposed to enemy fire, Santamaría successfully ran toward the enemy’s position and managed to set fire to the building.

This forced Walker’s men out and led to the victory and freedom of Costa Rica.

However, during this act of heroism, Santamaría was killed by enemy fire. His bravery and ultimate sacrifice turned the tide of the battle, contributing to the eventual defeat of Walker’s forces in the region.

Today Juan Santamaria is a patriotic symbol across Costa Rica. He is a national hero and children are still taught to honor his memory and love their country as he did.

The day will come when all things mortal will be viewed through an eternal perspective. In that day, I believe that the real heroes of mortality will be truly revealed—not sports stars, movie stars, musicians, politicians or the like—no! But parents, grandparents, missionaries, and servants of the Lord of all ages, races, and stations who have lived according to covenants and sought to establish Zion upon the earth. How beautiful upon the mountains will be their feet.

Source: ChatGPT, The Story of Juan Santanaria of Costa Rica