site.btaBulgarian Land Forces Celebrate 147 Years Since Founding

The Bulgarian Land Forces are commemorating their 147th anniversary and observing their service day, and the 140th anniversary of the Bulgarian infantry's victory in the Serbo-Bulgarian War, the Ministry of Defence press service said on Wednesday.

The commemorations will begin with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Five Captains Monument in Slivnitsa. Soldiers from the Bulgarian Land Forces will take part in a march on foot, retracing the steps of the Slivnitsa heroes from the Captains’ Monument to the Granite Monument "Heroes of Slivnitsa" in the town centre, where a formal wreath-laying ceremony will also be held. The highlight of the Land Forces’ service day will take place at the Mother Bulgaria Pantheon of the Fallen in the Serbo-Bulgarian War in the village of Gurgulyat.

At the Pantheon, President Rumen Radev will receive the honour guard and deliver an address, the President’s press secretariat said. Radev will pay tribute to those who died in the Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885, after which he will view the photo exhibition In Service of the People and the Homeland and inspect a static display of equipment, weaponry, and gear.

Deputy Defence Minister Radostin Iliev, Chief of Defence Emil Eftimov, and senior officers from the Bulgarian Army will also attend the event.

The Land Forces’ service day has been observed by decision of the Council of Ministers since November 16, 1992, according to BTA's Reference Department.

On November 7, the 140th anniversary of the Serbo-Bulgarian War was marked with a wreath-laying and a military tattoo at the Heroes of Slivnitsa Memorial.