On 23 April flags will be flown in support of veterans

Photo: Aldo Luud / Õhtuleht

The government approved the order to all administrative departments to fly flags on Veterans Day, 23 April, and it invites all people in Estonia to raise the flag in honour of veterans.

“On 23 April we will celebrate Veterans Day for the first time in Estonia – a day dedicated to soldiers serving on missions and those injured during service,” said Minister of Defence Urmas Reinsalu. “The government invites all people in Estonia to fly the flag and show their support to the brave service men and women who have fought under our flag and for Estonia far away from home.”

The Minister of Defence said that celebrating Veterans Day in Estonia will establish a new tradition for expressing gratitude to those 2,500 Estonian men and women who have participated in missions abroad or sustained injuries during service in Estonia. “They have strengthened our security and Estonian society owes them recognition,” said Reinsalu.

“People will be able to express their support and recognise families whose members have been on missions abroad. Veterans Day is also a day for the loved ones who have had to wait for someone to come home from the theatre of battle,” the minister said.

Reinsalu added that on Veterans Day we will be remembering all those soldiers who have given what is most precious – their lives – for Estonia’s freedom.

To celebrate Veterans Day, the Defence Forces will organise Veterans Rock at Liberty Square, Tallinn on 23 April, starting at 6.30 pm. The free concert will feature Singer Vinger, Terminaator, Ultima Thule and Tõnis Mägi, performing a programme especially compiled for the event.

As part of Veterans Day, events in support of veterans will be held across Estonia: military units will organise luncheons for veterans, there will be a veterans’ shooting contest, an exhibition of missions abroad will be opened and all fallen soldiers will be remembered at a Veterans Day church service.

The Ministry of Defence will initiate legislative amendments to give greater support to veterans. The time spent on international military missions will be added in double to the length of active service of the members of the Defence Forces. In addition to this, the work incapacity pension for injured members of the Defence Forces will be increased and a significant increase in survivors’ pensions will provide greater security for persons close to the members of the Defence Forces participating in missions abroad.

Since 1995, Estonia has despatched 2,300 members of the Defence Forces to missions abroad. They have served in Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Lebanon, Macedonia, Israel and Syria, Iraq, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Mali, the Gulf of Aden and the Mediterranean. In addition, members of the Defence Forces have been injured during service duty or military training in Estonia. On 20 December 2012, the government approved the veterans policy of the Defence Forces and Defence League, which will increase the support given to almost 2,500 veterans and their families.