After almost 30 years since it was established, Slovakia has unveiled a tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It was accompanied by a ceremony held in Bratislava on Monday afternoon and attended by representatives of the state, members of the Government and Parliament, representatives of local governments and war veterans. At the same time, the remains of an unknown soldier - member of the 1st Czechoslovak Army were buried under the monument on the Danube Embankment. The soldier fought in the Dukla Pass Battle, which triggered the liberation of Slovakia from the fascist rule. + Parliamentary Chair Boris Kollar pointed out that such a place of reverence has been established in all countries that respect their past and realise that freedom, democracy and independence require sacrifices, and sometimes even the highest ones. The monument is supposed to be a reminder of a soldier defending the values on which a civilised society is built. Prime Minister Eduard Heger noted that peace is not a matter of course. "So that peace in democratic societies persists and is an inspiration for others," said Heger, adding that the memorial site should be a place to honour all fallen soldiers and their heroism. President Zuzana Caputova also considers the creation of places of commemoration to be very important. "Freedom can't be won once and for all. We must constantly and repeatedly protect and strengthen it. So that the sacrifices we commemorate never become vain," she wrote in her speech that was read by head of the President's Office Metod Spacek due to her illness. According to her, the monument should be a place of reverence, a symbol of heroism, true patriotism coming from the heart, but also knowledge of one's own history and personal humility. The tomb of the Unknown Soldier is a tribute to all soldiers who died in war without a name because they couldn't be identified.
Source: TASR
