23 April – Day of the Romanian Land Forces

Day of the Romanian Land Forces is celebrated each year on 23 April, on the Day of Holy Great Martyr George the Victory-Bearer, Patron of the land troops, with military equipment exhibitions, symposiums, documentary film shows, technical presentations, wreath laying at hero monuments, military music concerts and artistic performances in all the garrisons across the country.

Ground troopers present their battle technique, weapons and equipment, and participate in demonstrative intervention exercises of the EOD team, survival exercises, escalation and crossings using the funicular, self-defense techniques, and exercise exercises arms.

Romanian Minister of Defense, Mihai Fifor, has laid a wreath on Monday at the Memorial to the Heroes fallen in operation theatres and in Romania in the Bucharest Youth Park.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis hailed the army’s role as a pillar to consolidate national independence and sovereignty. „Our troops are those who, by their blood sacrifice, have made it possible to maintain the indivisible unity of our country. Today’s Romania is a democratic and modern country, which needs a strong army to strengthen its profile in NATO and the European Union, in the context in which Euro-Atlantic cooperation must be the basis for European security and stability”, the Head of State says in his message on the occasion of Land Forces Day.

Romania's Terrestrial Forces represents about 70% of the Army and throughout history, it had the highest number of victims in the theaters of operations. Romania's Ground Forces now have 629 soldiers in Afghanistan, where Saint George was also celebrated.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei