The funerals of the 280th Infantry Battalion commander, Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Balan and his wife, Maricica Balan occurred today, August 1, in Focsani.

At the religious ceremony took part together with the family the Minister of Defense, Teodor Atanasiu, the State Secretary and chief of Department for Armaments, Ioan Ion, the Chief of General Staff, General Eugen Badalan, the chief of the Army Staff, Lieutenant General Sorin Ioan, military of the unit he commanded, representatives of the Battalions that were in missions in the theaters of operations, friends, local and central authorities, and many other people.

The premature lost of Stefan Balan brought many tears in Focsani. For his former comrades he was an example in everything. The dignity, sincerity, correctness, friendship were few of the qualities of the commander of the 280th Infantry Battalion. His comrades and colleagues have nothing but to continue his work, and only so they could find him said Teodor Atanasiu. In the six months in Iraq, the military he led helped thousands of people, performed more than 1,500 missions and run about 400,000 km. Commander Balan could not help himself and his wife at only 30 km far from home added the Minister. Atanasiu also said that the community of Focsani lost two of those who worth the respect of the city.

In the name of the General Staff and in his name, General Badalan paid the last homage to Stefan and Maricica Balan. Stefan Balan was an exceptional officer, the commander of the 280th Infantry Battalion, the man who trained and led this Battalion in such a difficult mission said General Badalan. And he added that, probably this is the life, the best of us must go first and form the Army in the Heaven. Today is Stefan and Maricica's turn. The Chief of the General Staff ensured the mourning family they will do whatever possible for their daughter, Irina Balan, as her parents would do.

Lieutenant Colonel Stefan Balan and his wife were escorted on their last way to Cimitirul Nordic in Focsani, they tuned the State Hymn of Romania and the honor guard performed three salvos with infantry armament. At the end of the ceremony the tri-color flag of Romania was handed to Stefan Balan's parents.

MoD Press Office