Minister Gajdoš commemorates 138th anniversary of General M. R. Štefánik's birthday

SVK Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš today (21 July 2018) visited the village of Košariská to commemorate the 138th anniversary of General M. R. Štefánik's birthday. During the commemoration ceremony, the Minister along with DCHOD/COS Maj Gen Miroslav Kocian paid homage to one of the most prominent figures of modern Slovak history.

“General Štefánik dedicated practically the whole of his life to the struggle for freedom of his nation. That is why it is important to keep his legacy alive especially at a time when it may falsely appear that freedom may be taken for granted,” said Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš, whilst emphasising that the defence of the State should be a matter of honour for every citizen. General Štefánik once remarked: “Those who believe other people will fight in order to bring freedom to them are not worthy of freedom.” Accordingly, helping to stimulate the interest of young people in Homeland Defence is a priority of the SVK MOD.

Milan Rastislav Štefánik was born on 21 July 1880 in the village of Košariská. He died tragically in an aircraft accident on 4 May 1919 on returning to Czechoslovakia.