Denmark on Tuesday marked its 15th National Flag Day, a day to honor the men and women who have served or are serving abroad in the Danish Armed Forces.
The day’s events began with the official laying of wreaths at the Citadel Memorial in Copenhagen. Representatives of government institutions then attended a memorial service for the fallen, and there was a parade at Parliament Square in honor of those who deployed this year.
In a statement, the Chief of the Danish Defense, General Flemming Lentfer, said National Flag Day was an important recognition of those who have been deployed for Denmark. “We raise the flag to those who came home safely, those whose lives were changed by their deployments, and those who never came home,” he said. “National Flag Day is also a recognition of the relatives who always stand behind the individuals deployed.”
The National Flag Day was initiated by Private Kim Eg Thygesen, who was deployed to Kosovo in 2004 and Afghanistan in 2006. He felt that Denmark should honor its personnel deployments on National Flag Day. National Flag Day was approved by the Danish government in 2009 and was marked for the first time that year.
In addition to the main event in Copenhagen, there were also a number of local events across Denmark, the Faroes, and Greenland. These events included wreath-laying ceremonies, memorial services, and parades.
National Flag Day is a day to remember the sacrifices made by the Danish Armed Forces and to express gratitude for their service. It is also a day to celebrate the strength and resilience of the Danish people.
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