Author: editorial office

Ecumenical services, acts of devotion and solemn meetings. Veterans Day is celebrated around the world on November 11 to mark the end of the First World War. During a ceremony at the National Memorial in Vítkov, Czech soldiers and others who were present remembered the victims and participants in the war. Doctors and paramedics – members of the 6th Field Hospital, which the government sent to Afghanistan 20 years ago, also received commemorative badges.

Defense Minister Jana Černochová remembered the heroes who gave their lives for our freedom. He named the Czechoslovak legionnaires or heroic Czechoslovak airmen and other soldiers who died in the fight against Nazism, as well as 30 veterans of modern warfare who did not return from their deployments from foreign operations. “However, all our war veterans deserve words of appreciation, even those who were lucky and returned home healthy from the battlefield. I am pleased to be able to greet the doctors and paramedics here, who look after the health of soldiers and local people in overseas operations,” said Minister Černochová.

Thanks to the doctors and paramedics

Members of the 6th Field Hospital – doctors and paramedics sent by the government to Afghanistan in April 2002 – also received commemorative badges. “At that time the country was recovering from the war and people here really lacked health care. And thanks to your care, thousands of Afghans have managed to save their lives or significantly improve their health. And for that, I want to thank you all today – the doctors, the paramedics and those who have helped you,” he added.

On this occasion, the minister also praised the services of the resistance fighters Josef and Bohuslav Fikr to commemorate their heroic actions for our country. And further the merits of several veterans, employees of the Ministry of Defense and other citizens by presenting the Czech Republic Minister of Defense Cross of Merit Award, for excellent performance of their duties or for maintaining military traditions. In closing, he stressed that it is important never to forget Czech heroes, acquaint the younger generation with their fate, and continue traditions, such as the commemoration of War Veterans Day.

Wars are not won by machines, but by humans

“Exactly 104 years ago, the conflict ended where the first veterans – the Czechoslovak legionnaires – fought. Thanks to them, our republic was created and we stand here today. We all follow them. We also don’t forget the services of our fellow war veterans who there are still more than 120 people in the Czech Republic. But we also have more than 16,000 modern veterans,” concluded the Chief of the ACR General Staff, Major General Karel Řehka, in his opening speech. He also highlighted the main purpose of military service – ensuring the security and defense of the country – and commended the soldiers who attended. “I value each of you and your work. Even in today’s technological age, wars are not won by machines, but by humans. That’s why you are the most valuable thing an army has,” he added.

Poppies symbol

Veterans Day is celebrated around the world on November 11, commemorating the end of the First World War. Poppies cover the graves of soldiers who died on the Western Front and are therefore a symbol of this holiday. In the modern history of the Czech Republic, 11 November is celebrated as War Veterans Day for the first time in 2001.

• Today is an opportunity to publicly remember those patriots who, in the apocalypse of the wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945, selflessly and without hesitation risked their lives for the freedom of their homeland and for the restoration of state sovereignty.
• At the same time, in these days we remember all the men and women who served their country away from home in foreign peacekeeping missions and operations, as well as those who gave their lives for the service.