the tail of the horse was filled to offset the weight of the structure. The base of the monument was built by the Italian company Falcone S.R.L, under the direction of hydraulics and civil engineer José Antonio Alonso. Alonso also completed the move of the Foundational Pyramid. The base was covered with white limestone brought from Zapala. For its inauguration on September 12, 1954, the base of the monument was covered with Argentinian flags, since the works on the limestone were not finished and the internal bricks were visible. The ceremony started after midday, with the attendance of 15,000 citizens. The monument was rounded on a square formation by territorial authorities, members of the National Gendarmerie and the Armed Forces, and school students. It was blessed by Alfonso Butteler, Bishop of Neuquén-Mendoza. Following speeches from local authorities and a member of the commission, a military parade was organized. On the days that followed Falcone S.R.L completed the covering of the base, and removed the flags. Reforms In 2009, the San Martinian Society requested to fence the monument after it was repeatedly vandalized. The request was dismissed by the city council, that considered that it would affect the aesthetics of the monument. In 2012, the municipal government of Neuquén made renewals on the monument. The Public Buildings and Transit Secretariat replaced the quicklime tiles of the roundabout for porphyr ones, that formed a sun-and-star shape. The National University of Comahue was in charge of the new illumination of the monument. On each of the twelve pointers of the star, metal cylinders were built to house lights that pointed toward the pedestal. Additional reflectors were placed on the top of the base to illuminate the statue. In April 2013, after further vandalism, mayor Horacio Quiroga announced further reforms to the monument. The original cover limestone, affected by years of being painted and cleaned, was replaced by two layers of granite. The inner layer, was composed of natural granite, while the external was covered with flamed granite to avoid paint adhesion. Water pipes were built in the interior to produce a waterfall effect on the four sides of the pedestal, and a fountain on the base to recirculate the water. All the lights on the monument were replaced by LED lightning. The commemorative plaques were restored and placed under the waterfalls. The works started in February 2014, with an estimated cost of ARS1,7