Veterans Day Marked With Monument, Rock Concert and Charity Run
The second annual Veterans Day began today with the unveiling of a monument in Paldiski to commemorate those men who have fallen in Estonian military missions abroad.
The monument was first erected in Afghanistan in 2010 but relocated to Paldiski, which houses many units of professional Estonian soldiers, as Estonian troops are pulling out of Afghanistan.
“We remember and mourn all brave Estonian soldiers who have fallen in the name of security for the Afghan people, for Estonia and for our allies,” President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said today.
He said those soldiers have proven that Estonia is a reliable ally, and that has translated into NATO support for Estonia during the current crises in the Ukraine.
Estonia has 2,500 veterans, of whom 150 were injured in combat. Nine Estonian soldiers died in Afghanistan and two were killed in Iraq.
A 3.2 kilometer charity run was held at sunset in Tallinn on Tuesday. Injured servicemen also took part and organizers have promised to repeat the run every year.
A rock concert will be held on Freedom Square in Tallinn tonight, featuring Tanel Padar & The Sun and Metsatöll. The event is free and will begin at 21:00 local time.