On the Day of the Veterans, in Bucharest and other towns across the country that host military units that carried out missions abroad, military and religious ceremonies will be organized on Friday, November 11.

At 10.30, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony and a religious service at the Monument of the heroes who fell in theaters of operations and in Romania, in Tineretului Park. Also, there will be a moment of recollection in memory of the heroes who paid with their lives in service of the country. In the foyer of the Children's Palace, there will be a display of photos, flags of the military units that participated in missions in theaters of operations, veterans' medals and volumes of poems written by 2nd Lt. (posthumous) Ioan Grosaru, who fell on duty in Iraq in 2007.

Also, the lot of soldiers selected to participate in 'Invictus Games Toronto 2017' will be introduced. They are soldiers wounded in theaters of operations and will represent Romania at the the paralympic sports event.

The National Office for Heroes Memory will organize A different kind of history lesson: do you know what we celebrate today? for the students of Ion Creanga and Decebal highschools, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Memorial of the National Heroes, in Carol I Park, from 13.30, in the attendance of veterans.

Wreath-laying ceremonies will be organized at the graves and monuments dedicated to the sacrifice and heroism of the Romanian soldiers who fell in theaters of operations.

The activities will take place in the attendance of the heroes' families, representatives of the Ministry of National Defence and local authorities, veterans and soldiers wounded in theaters of operations, active duty military personnel, war veterans and pupils.

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The Day of the Veterans was established by Law 150 of 22.10.2014, that modified and completed OUG No.82/2006 on the recognition of the merits of military personnel participating in military missions, and what is owed to them and the families of the deceased soldiers.

This way, Romania joins Australia, Canada, the USA and other countries that show their gratitude to the soldiers who returned from missions and commemorate their heroes.

November 11 was the day chosen for what it symbolizes on November 11, 1918, at 11.00 hrs., the Armistice signed by the representatives of Germany and the Entente ended WW1 and created the circumstances our country needed to achieve the Great Union of December 1, 1918.

The day got an added significace in Romania, as on November 11, 2003, 2nd Lt. (posthumous) Iosif Silviu Fogorasi, died in the line of duty, the first Romanian soldier to lose his life in the theater of operations in Afghanistan.

Press Department