5th Special Forces Regiment hosts a memorial unveiling ceremony in Žilina to commemorate the soldiers who died while on duty in Afghanistan
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- Date: 16.10.2017
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SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Security/Deputy Chairman of the Slovak National Party (SNS) Anton Hrnko, and Chief of Defence Gen Milan Maxim, with the participation of U.S. Ambassador His Excellency Mr Adam Sterling, unveiled a memorial dedicated to the memory of the 5th Special Forces Regiment members who died in the course of performing their duties. Captain Edmund Makovník and Sgt 1st Class Patrik Fraštia along with U.S. Air Force Captain David Lyon lost their lives in a suicide vehicle-borne IED attack on their convoy in Afghanistan on 27 December 2013.
In his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, Head of the SVK MOD said: “Almost 4 years have passed since the tragedy, when during the Christmas period we lost two colleagues – professional soldiers, however, this does not mean we have forgotten them. On the contrary, this place of commemoration is testament to it.” He praised that the idea to build this formal place of commemoration and reflection had come entirely out of the initiative of their fellow soldiers from the elite SOF regiment. “This shows that they were not only colleagues but also friends and members of the “military” family. I very much appreciate this gesture,” he emphasised.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee A. Hrnko said it should be applauded that a place of commemoration and remembrance has been created on the grounds of the 5th Special Forces Regiment. “Likewise, I appreciate that the Ministry of Defence is preparing a central memorial,” he said, whilst underlining that those who have lost their lives in favour of their country, peace and democracy and in the fight against those who threaten these values must never be forgotten.
According to Chief of Defence Gen Maxim, soldiers never forget their colleagues and friends who lost their lives while deployed on arduous operations. “What do we soldiers wish? If only the 5th Special Forces Regiment would never have to extend this memorial and we would never have to build any other memorials,” he said.
The memories of the 27 December 2013 incident were also echoed in the words of a fellow soldier of Captain Makovník and Sergeant 1st Class Fraštia. “Not only did we lose two highest quality warriors, but we also lost two of us – our friends with whom we had lived through a lot and had been connected through a myriad of experiences. Edo and Paťo, thank you for everything I learned from you, it was an honour to have served with you. May this memorial remind us of you and of everything you did for us,” said a member of the 5th Special Forces Regiment in Žilina.
In his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, Head of the SVK MOD said: “Almost 4 years have passed since the tragedy, when during the Christmas period we lost two colleagues – professional soldiers, however, this does not mean we have forgotten them. On the contrary, this place of commemoration is testament to it.” He praised that the idea to build this formal place of commemoration and reflection had come entirely out of the initiative of their fellow soldiers from the elite SOF regiment. “This shows that they were not only colleagues but also friends and members of the “military” family. I very much appreciate this gesture,” he emphasised.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Defence and Security Committee A. Hrnko said it should be applauded that a place of commemoration and remembrance has been created on the grounds of the 5th Special Forces Regiment. “Likewise, I appreciate that the Ministry of Defence is preparing a central memorial,” he said, whilst underlining that those who have lost their lives in favour of their country, peace and democracy and in the fight against those who threaten these values must never be forgotten.
According to Chief of Defence Gen Maxim, soldiers never forget their colleagues and friends who lost their lives while deployed on arduous operations. “What do we soldiers wish? If only the 5th Special Forces Regiment would never have to extend this memorial and we would never have to build any other memorials,” he said.
The memories of the 27 December 2013 incident were also echoed in the words of a fellow soldier of Captain Makovník and Sergeant 1st Class Fraštia. “Not only did we lose two highest quality warriors, but we also lost two of us – our friends with whom we had lived through a lot and had been connected through a myriad of experiences. Edo and Paťo, thank you for everything I learned from you, it was an honour to have served with you. May this memorial remind us of you and of everything you did for us,” said a member of the 5th Special Forces Regiment in Žilina.
