Berlin's Governing Mayor Kai Wegner wants to honor servicemen and women in Spandau on the first National Veterans Day. (symbolic image)
© dpa
On the first National Veterans Day, the Governing Mayor Kai Wegner honors the Medical Regiment 1 with a flag ribbon on Sunday.
"Berlin is thus expressing its special solidarity with this Bundeswehr unit, which is stationed here," the CDU politician explained in advance. "I would like to thank all the soldiers for their service to our country."
National Veterans Day is intended to honor active and former soldiers of the German Armed Forces for their service. The central event will take place around the Reichstag building. Wegner plans to award the flag ribbon at a ceremonial roll call in the Blücher barracks in Spandau. It is the highest honor bestowed on a military association by a state government.
Veterans' Day highlights the importance and achievements of veterans for peace, freedom and democracy, explained Wegner. "The soldiers of the Bundeswehr protect and defend our country, and in extreme cases they risk their own lives for our freedom and peace. That deserves the highest recognition." In Germany, around ten million men and women have performed military service or have been professional or regular soldiers, and around 500,000 have been deployed, for example in Afghanistan, Mali or Bosnia-Herzegovina.