Today, at the Ilinden barracks in Skopje, members of the Honour Guard Battalion (HGBn) marked November 11, the Day of the Unit with a military ceremony.
On this occasion, the Chief of the General Staff of the Army, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, and the Deputy Commander of the HGBn, Lieutenant Colonel Igor Milchov, addressed those present.
Highlighting the role of the Honour Guard Battalion, Major General Lafchiski stated: “Your mission is not only to carry out protocol activities. It is much more than formality – it is a sense of honour, discipline, and loyalty to the state; a sense of excellence and dedication in every task you perform, in every formation, in every step, in every moment of silence while paying tribute. You are the first and last impression gained by the highest representatives of states and international organizations visiting our homeland.”
Major General Lafchiski urged the members to continue being “guardians of tradition, a symbol of dignity, and the pride of the Army and the state,” reminding them of the Lux Aeterna symbol and the Guard’s values: honour, courage, and dedication.
Addressing the battalion members, the unit’s Deputy Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Igor Milchov, emphasized that numerous tasks had been carried out in the past period. “We respected and properly valued the contribution of everyone in the unit and invested in building a morally strong collective,” Lieutenant Colonel Milchov stated.
Finally, he added that in the upcoming period, in addition to regular duties and protocol activities, the unit will be preparing and organizing the pre-New Year concert and will be participating in international activities.
On the occasion of the Day of the Unit, guard games and sports competitions were held, during which diplomas and trophies were awarded to the best teams, and the best platoon was announced. Incentive awards were also given to individuals who particularly distinguished themselves in carrying out their duties in the past period.
The ceremony was attended by the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Sashko Lafchiski, the Dean of the Military Academy, Colonel Nenad Taneski, the President’s aide-de-camp, representatives from commands and units of the Army, representatives of the Veterans’ Association, as well as many former members of the HGBn.
The Honour Guard Battalion celebrates its Day of the Unit as the bearer of the traditions of the First Macedonian – Kosovo Strike Brigade, formed on November 11, 1943 in the village of Slivovo.
