Heroes' Day (Paraguay)

Francisco Solano López Carrillo was a Paraguayan statesman, military officer and politician who served as President of Paraguay between 1862 and 1870, of which he served mostly during the Paraguayan War (1864–1870). He succeeded his father Carlos Antonio López as the second president of Paraguay. He is the only Paraguayan president to have been killed in action. He is one of only two Paraguayans to have received the rank of Marshal, along with José Félix Estigarribia. He is officially recognized as the country's national hero since the presidency of Colonel Rafael Franco between 1936 and 1937 after decades of liberal governments that rejected his figure as heroic. The date of his birth, July 24, is officially recognized as the Paraguayan Army Day, while the date of his death, March 1, is officially recognized as the National Heroes' Day and is a national holiday in the country.

Paraguay, officially the Republic of Paraguay, is a landlocked country located in the central region of South America. It is a unitary state with a territory composed of a capital district and seventeen departments. Its capital and largest city is Asunción. Paraguay is a presidential republic and a state governed by the rule of law. It is a founding member of Mercosur, along with Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.