Remembering Jozef Gabčík ceremonially and sport-wise

To mark the anniversary of the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich on 26 May, Slovak President and Commander-in-Chief of the SVK Armed Forces Andrej Kiska promoted Jozef Gabčík posthumously to the rank of Major General. “He distinguished himself with an act of immense bravery and paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom as a young man,” said Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš. With the Order of the President of the SVK REP of 1994, the honorific title of “Žilina-based Jozef Gabčík Regiment” was added to the elite 5th Special Forces Regiment. On Saturday 27 May, a record number of 304 runners participated in the 23rd Jozef Gabčík Memorial Run in Žilina. Among those who came to pay tribute at the Jozef Gabčík Memorial were Maj Gen Miroslav Kocian, Deputy Chief of Defence, Maj Adrian Patrascu, US Air Force Attaché to Slovakia, Col (Rtd) Jozef Tuček, President of War Paratroopers Club and founding Commander 5th Special Forces Regiment, General Staff (GS) Col Ľubomír Šebo, Chief of Special Forces Branch at SVK General Staff, and Col Miroslav Gardlo, Commander 5th Special Forces Regiment Žilina.

Soldiers of the 5th Special Forces Regiment, wearing Army trainers, trousers and T-shirts, turned up for the run for the 5th time already. This year they were joined by members of the City of Žilina Police Flying Squad. The fastest runner on the 11-km-long track was Marek Chrascina of Jablunkov, Moravia. The women's category was won by Adéla Esteinerová of Ostrava. From among soldiers, Capt Silvia Šebastian and Sgt Jozef Bubeník, both local service personnel, were named the fastest runners.