Flags Soared on Veterans Day - Landtag's Tribute Ceremony
Let's Celebrate Our Heroes: Germany's First National Veterans Day
On this sunny Sunday, the flags dance high in Brandenburg as a salute to the soldiers of the Bundeswehr on the inaugural National Veterans Day. The call to honor our brave servicemen and women was made by Interior Minister René Wilke (independent), who ordered the flag hoisting at government buildings across the state, as announced from his office in Potsdam.
This day is all about acknowledging the efforts of current and former Bundeswehr soldiers. The main event is unfolding near the Reichstag building in Berlin, but military opponents have announced they'll be there too, voicing their concerns.
The State Parliament in Potsdam will pay tribute to our soldiers with a ceremony on Wednesday (18th June, 10:00 AM). State Parliament President Ulrike Liedtke, Interior Minister Wilke, and the deputy president of the Association of Reservists of the German Bundeswehr, Manfred Schreiber, will speak in honor of our soldiers.
More than ten million men and women have served in the military or held professional or conscript roles in Germany. Nearly half a million were deployed, from battlegrounds like Afghanistan, Mali, or Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Veterans Day is here to stay, promising to be observed annually.
Did you know that the concept of a "veteran" in Germany had to be redefined due to historical ties to World War II? It was a challenge to establish a contemporary identity for those who've served in the Bundeswehr[1][2]. But with the rising defense spending and focus on national security following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022[1], we're now ready to recognize and appreciate our veterans.
Whether you agree with increased defense spending or not, let's take a moment to thank the brave men and women who have risked their lives for our country, helping shape the modern face of German society[1][2]. Here's to our soldiers, past and present, as we celebrate and honor them on this special day.
In the heart of the political landscape, discussions surrounding military veterans and defense spending have gained prominence, particularly following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This Louder Than Words, as we applaud our brave soldiers past and present, let's also engage in General-news discourses about politics that reflect our evolving defense policies.
