First veteran day in Starnberg: tradition and appreciation required!

First veteran day in Starnberg: tradition and appreciation required!

Starnberg, Deutschland - On June 23, 2025, the first veteran day took place in Starnberg on the church square and attracted around 150 participants. These included active and former soldiers as well as representatives from politics, including district administrator Stefan Frey, Mayor Patrick Janik and pastor Simon Döbrich. Merku reported that this significant day became a tradition. The appointment was chosen strategically a week after the nationwide veteran day, which was celebrated for the first time on June 15, 2025.

The veteran day is a Germany event that is celebrated in Berlin at the Reichstag and aims to honor the services and deprivation of around ten million veterans. The introduction of the holiday was decided by the Bundestag in 2024 and is a step towards more recognition for active and former soldiers. ZDF emphasizes that the day should offer a platform to enable encounters between veterans, the Bundeswehr, politics and civil society.

an important sign of appreciation

Colonel Kai Hess from the Bundeswehr said that the Starnberg veteran day was created in cooperation with local clubs and communities. This initiative is seen as a crucial step to promote awareness and appreciation for soldiers, paramedics and police in society. District Administrator Stefan Frey emphasized the importance of a veteran day and pointed out the role of the Bundeswehr for peace and freedom in Europe. bundes- government.de refers to the central role that this day plays in social dialogue.

The Catholic pastor Dr. In his sermon, Andreas Jall emphasized the willingness to sacrifice of the soldiers, while the Protestant pastor Döbrich made it clear that the Bundeswehr did not exist for aggressive actions, but to protect human rights. The desire for more social recognition for the Bundeswehr was a continuous topic. Pöcking Mayor Rainer Schnitzler also joined this idea.

honor and outlook

Some critical voices, such as Dietmar Bartsch (left), question militarization and upgrade. Nevertheless, the veteran day is seen as the beginning in order to create more thoughtfulness and gratitude for the soldiers' services. For example, the veteran Robert Müller, who has served over 20 years for Germany, is planning a hike from Hamburg to Berlin to commemorate his comrades. Such personal stories also make the day alive.

Overall, the first veteran day shows, not only the local occasion in Starnberg, but also the nationwide celebrations of how important it is to appreciate the performance of the soldiers and to bring in the social discourse. This could contribute to a rethink in the perception of the Bundeswehr and perhaps also lay the foundation for a tradition that will shape future generations.