Children's Day with SVK Armed Forces makes kids from entire Slovakia happy

The first Saturday during the holiday period belonged to children – demonstrations of an EOD team's activity, of armaments and equipment, and of fighting in built-up areas. All this and a lot more could be seen by hundreds of kids and their parents at the 17th Children's Day with the SVK Armed Forces, which was held in Bojnice. Soldiers showed close combat demonstrations, an Mi-17 helicopter flew over the city and members of the 5th Special Forces Regiment from Žilina carried out an airdrop. Also, visitors saw a helicopter attacking an IFV vehicle as well as MP working dog handlers in action.

"All children in the world deserve to live in peace which is very fragile. I think the Children's Day with the SVK Armed Forces is an ideal opportunity to show to the public that the SVK Armed Forces and their missions provide an assurance that our kids and youth can have a peaceful childhood. A lot of efforts and resources must be spent on towards this purpose," said Chief of the Defence Staff Lt Gen Milan Maxim. During the event, kids could try out marching with soldiers, see military promotion videos as well as documentaries commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising in a field cinema.

The visitors could use a Dukla Banská Bystrica Army Sports Club simulator for sportsmen and women, and kids decorated an army tank as part of the “army modernization through the eyes of kids” initiative. Soldiers made sweet and potato pancakes for them in the field kitchen. During the Children's Day with the SVK Armed Forces, singer Martin Harich, pupils from Bojnice Elementary Arts School and the Maguranček brass band created a rich cultural programme. Dancing performances were put on by girls from the SoFly hip-hop dance group, the Mimikry scenic dance group and the Break Fans group.