Public Forces of Costa Rica education and culture. Costa Rica maintains Police Guard forces. The museum "Museo Nacional de Costa Rica" was placed in the "Cuartel Bellavista" as a symbol of commitment to culture. In 1986, President Oscar Arias Sánchez declared December 1 as the "Día de la Abolición del Ejército" (Military abolition day) with Law #8115. Unlike its neighbors, Costa Rica has not endured a civil war since 1948. Costa Rica maintains small forces capable of law enforcement, but has no permanent standing army. In 1996, the Ministry of Public Security established the "Fuerza Pública" or Public Force, a gendarmarie which reorganized and eliminated
Miss Costa Rica Crown was awarded to the previous year's First Runner-up, Elena Correa, without an official contest ceremony. Miss Costa Rica Miss Costa Rica is a national beauty pageant in Costa Rica. Women between the ages of 18 and 27, each representing a province, compete to represent Costa Rica for one year and participate in the annual Miss Universe international competition. Costa Rica has participated in the Miss Universe pageant since 1954 and has sent 56 representatives in the pageant's 60-year history. The event has been broadcast by Teletica since 1960. In 2007 Costa Rica's representatives in Miss World, Miss Earth, and