The Czech Republic celebrated the armed forces day for the eighth time on 30 June this year. In 2002, the Czech president decided to celebrate the day to commemorate the military parade held in the French city of Darney on 30 June 1918. On that day, two regiments of Czechoslovak legions swore the oath of loyalty to the republic that was to be established forming thus the core of the autonomous Czechoslovak forces whose structure followed the spirit of Czechoslovak legions tradition.
The University of Defence celebrated the significant day by meeting the representatives of civil associations who were welcomed to University's premises by deputy rector colonel Josef Trojan. A ceremonial assembly followed immediately attended by, besides the above-mentioned representatives of civil associations, also the representatives for the military units deployed in Brno, University of Defence management and its teachers, researchers and students.
The University of Defence personnel were awarded forty-five medals for the service in Czech Republic's armed forces at the grades I, II or III. Before the ceremony, the decision was announced in Minister's of Defence personnel order read to the assembly. The present awarded staff received the medals from deputy rector colonel Trojan.
Colonel Trojan then reminded the significance and legacy for today of the historical moments that gave origin to the Czech Republic Armed Forces Day as he said "We, the personnel of the Army of the Czech Republic being the key element of national armed forces, consider the tradition of the battles fought by Czechoslovak legions and the message of Darney oath made on 30 June 1918 a moral imperative we shall never betray. Our mission is to do the best to let the Czechoslovak legions legacy seed and flourish in the coming military personnel generation through bringing up new students responsibly so that they are able to learn and apply lessons in their work."
A thought-provoking speech concerning the historical meaning of Armed Forces Day was presented by Mr. Jiri Hutecka, a FEM Department of Social Sciences and Law member. The address on behalf of civil associations that closely cooperate with our school was delivered the Czech Air Force Association president colonel (ret.) Oldrich Rampula.
The assembly was a perfect opportunity to publish and award the Student Research Project Rector's Prize holders for the academic year of 2008/2009. Those winners were: Roman Skuta, FEM Bachelor's programme student in 3rd year, Martin Kaczur, FMT Master's programme student in 1st year, and Pavel Novotny, FMT long-cycle Master's programme student in 5th year. The students received the prizes from the vice-rector for research colonel Martin Macko.
Author: Zdenka Dubova