140th anniversary of Gen M. R. Štefánik′s birthday commemorated

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď commemorated the legacy and paid homage to Gen Milan Rastislav Štefánik, one of the greatest figures of our history, in his native village of Košariská. Also in attendance at the ceremony marking his 140th birthday were the three highest constitutional representatives of the Slovak Republic – Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová, Parliamentary Chairman Boris Kollár, and Prime Minister Igor Matovič.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “There are many occasions throughout the year when we remember this great icon of Slovak contemporary history. Each of them offers an insight into history and carries the message of “never forget”. This is important since through commemorative events like this one, we pay homage to those who have left behind inerasable traces in our history. At the same time, we thus contribute to raising awareness and bolstering a sense of patriotism in young people.”

Minister Naď lauded Gen Štefánik′s meritorious deeds in establishing the interwar Czechoslovak Republic and made a special mention of his indispensable role in standing up the Czechoslovak Legion, whilst successfully rallying the support of the international diplomatic and military circles. Gen Štefánik was, among others, a politician, an astronomer, a soldier and the first Czechoslovak Minister of War. Štefánik was promoted, posthumously, to the rank of General by the President of the Slovak Republic in 2004. “The message of this great national icon – the first patriot and the first “European” is universal even today, and so are the universal values of freedom and democracy he promoted,” added Minister Naď.

On this occasion, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď recognised the achievements of five SVK WW2 veterans in the battles to liberate Slovakia in WW2. He awarded and presented the SVK Minister of Defence Commemorative Medal, 1st Grade, to Pavol Liška, Ján Krutý and Branislav Tvarožek, the SVK Minister of Defence Commemorative Medal, 2nd Grade, to Anna Bergerová, and the SVK Minister of Defence Commemorative Medal, 3rd Grade, to Július Molitoris.

Milan Rastislav Štefánik was born on 21 July 1880 in the village of Košariská. On his return flight home from Italy, he died, aged 39, tragically in the Caproni Ca.33 biplane crash near the village of Ivanka pri Dunaji on 4 May 1919. He rests in peace at the Tomb of M. R. Štefánik, designed by architect Dušan Jurkovič, on Bradlo Hill.