General Štefánik's legacy lives on and will not be forgotten in France either
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- Date: 08.10.2021
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As part of his official visit and talks in France, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď took the opportunity to commemorate the life and personality of General M. R. Štefánik as a scientist, soldier, politician, diplomat of European standing and one of the founders of Czechoslovak statehood. To pay homage to this prominent figure of Slovak history, the Defence Minister along with his delegation visited the places associated with General Štefánik in France.
Speaking of Štefánik's early days in France, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “In November 1904, Milan Rastislav Štefánik got off the train here in Paris. Along with just a few belongings in his suitcase, he carried with him his courage, tenacity, ambitions and will to make his presence felt in the world's metropolis of bustling political, scientific and cultural activity. Thanks to his adamancy, will and belief that everything is possible, he was there from the very onset of the organised struggle of Slovaks and Czechs for an independent Czechoslovakia abroad – the 1st Czechoslovak resistance movement abroad.”
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď paid tribute to General Štefánik in front of the General Štefánik Statue at the Meudon Observatory, where he worked as an assistant to the world-renown astronomer Prof Jules Janssen. The statue, which depicts him in a WW1-era French general's uniform, is a faithful replica of the original statue in Brezno. Also in attendance at the ceremony was the mayor of Brezno Tomáš Abel, as Brezno has a twinning relationship with Meudon, as well as Mr Jaroslav Ciran, the mayor of Brezová pod Bradlom, the town closely associated with General Štefánik.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď underlined that General Štefánik's legacy is very much kept alive by both the French and Slovaks. “Even this underlines the greatness of General Štefánik's legacy. I am truly honoured to lay a bouquet of flowers at the General Štefánik Memorial, the main memorial site for Slovaks in France, in the square which bears the general's name in Paris,” he said.
Mr Naď thanked 16th Arrondissement Council and Meudon City Council for their care and maintenance of Štefánik's memorial sites. As a mark of respect, he presented them with the SNP 75th Anniversary and End of WW2 Medal.
“Not only General Štefánik but also memories of the common struggle for freedom and democracy are the bonds of Slovak-French togetherness,” added Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď.
Speaking of Štefánik's early days in France, Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “In November 1904, Milan Rastislav Štefánik got off the train here in Paris. Along with just a few belongings in his suitcase, he carried with him his courage, tenacity, ambitions and will to make his presence felt in the world's metropolis of bustling political, scientific and cultural activity. Thanks to his adamancy, will and belief that everything is possible, he was there from the very onset of the organised struggle of Slovaks and Czechs for an independent Czechoslovakia abroad – the 1st Czechoslovak resistance movement abroad.”
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď paid tribute to General Štefánik in front of the General Štefánik Statue at the Meudon Observatory, where he worked as an assistant to the world-renown astronomer Prof Jules Janssen. The statue, which depicts him in a WW1-era French general's uniform, is a faithful replica of the original statue in Brezno. Also in attendance at the ceremony was the mayor of Brezno Tomáš Abel, as Brezno has a twinning relationship with Meudon, as well as Mr Jaroslav Ciran, the mayor of Brezová pod Bradlom, the town closely associated with General Štefánik.
Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď underlined that General Štefánik's legacy is very much kept alive by both the French and Slovaks. “Even this underlines the greatness of General Štefánik's legacy. I am truly honoured to lay a bouquet of flowers at the General Štefánik Memorial, the main memorial site for Slovaks in France, in the square which bears the general's name in Paris,” he said.
Mr Naď thanked 16th Arrondissement Council and Meudon City Council for their care and maintenance of Štefánik's memorial sites. As a mark of respect, he presented them with the SNP 75th Anniversary and End of WW2 Medal.
“Not only General Štefánik but also memories of the common struggle for freedom and democracy are the bonds of Slovak-French togetherness,” added Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď.
