President Klaus Iohannis together with attending Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Oprea and the defence minister Mircea Dusa on Wednesday attended the ceremony celebrating the 155th anniversary of the Mihai Viteazul 30th Guard Regiment, the first guard unit set up in the Romanian Army.
On the occasion of the ceremony, the head of state, on a proposal of National Defence Minister bestowed on the Guard Regiment flag the Military Virtue Order, rank of Officer, and together with the two ministers unveiled an equestrian statue of Prince Mihai Viteazul.
DefMin Dusa announced at the ceremony that the Guard Regiment will be raised to the rank of military brigade.
“The recently adopted National Defence Strategy speaks of powerful Romania in Europe and the world, which knows how to promote and respect its values and national symbols. You represent powerful Romania. By everything that you do, you set an example for those who will follow you. I am fully convinced that you will always do your duty with professionalism under the slogan written on the battle flag: honour and peace”, the Romanian president said.
He stressed that 155 years ago, Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza signed the act for establishing the 1st Infantrymen Battalion and thus the history of the guard regiments began, “history with pages of glory, bravery and sacrifice on the battlefields”.
“The military of the 30th Mihai Viteazul Guard Regiment continue the glorious tradition and history written by their predecessors. For those who are best of the Romanian army’s military it is an honour to serve under the flag of the 30th Mihai Viteazul Guard Regiment. From soldiers to officers, they all are true professionals, proud of the fact they are members of the guard of honour”, Iohannis stressed.
The president underscored that “the powerful corps spirit, the seriousness, tradition and comradeship make the 30th Mihai Viteazul Guard Regiment a landmark unit of the Romanian army, always ready to fulfill the missions entrusted upon it”.
In his turn, interim premier Oprea said the Regiment is a completely special unit. “Its name is a proof it is an elite unit, that draw all Romanians’ admiration (…),” Oprea said.
DefMin Dusa also stated that Mihai Viteazul 30th Guard Regiment “is not just a protocol unit”, but it also takes part in the missions conducted in the theatres of operations and together with NATO partners.
The officials’ speeches were followed by a dreal-team front drill exercise and the troops’ march.