First veteran day in Wilhelmshaven: Recognition for our heroes!

First veteran day in Wilhelmshaven: Recognition for our heroes!

On Sunday, June 15, 2025, the first veteran day took place in Wilhelmshaven, an event that focused on the connection between the population and the soldiers. A lively exchange was promoted with lectures and dialogues in the council hall. Council chairman Stefan Becker, himself a veteran, emphasized the personal connections that many people had to veterans. "We have to look for the dialogue and appreciate our soldiers," said Becker, underlining the concern of the event NWZ Online.

A highlight of the day was the report by frigate captain Volker Kübsch, who told about his commitment in the Red Sea in spring 2024. As commander of the "Hessen", he protected merchant ships from attacks by the Yemeni Huthi militias. Kübsch impressively reproduced how constant willingness to fight and short response times affect the psychological stress of the soldiers. "It is important that we talk about these experiences," he emphasized in order to promote the understanding of the challenges of soldiers.

the national veteran day

The veteran day in Wilhelmshaven fell together with the first national veteran day, which is also celebrated on June 15, 2025. This is organized by countries, municipalities and reservist associations and offers many other places in Germany the opportunity to honor veterans. The Bundestag has decided especially on this occasion to support a large number of events that are intended to reinforce the reputation of the veterans Veteranentag.

Various events take place throughout Germany on this day. Among other things, field services, greetings, networking events and entertaining programs are planned. In Augustdorf, for example, there will be a combination event with music and grilled food, while a “march of appreciation” is organized in Duisburg. Sporty and cultural activities will accompany the honors of the veterans, such as a photo exhibition "Faces of Life", which is opened in Euskirchen Veteranentag.

social appreciation of veterans

dr. During the event, Thomas Eisentraut, head of the German Marinemuseum, devoted himself to the question of how society deals with active and former soldiers. He recommended that soldiers in uniform specifically address in order to learn more about their experiences and thus raise awareness of their achievements. In times when the missions are more complicated and the requirements for the soldiers increase, this appreciation is more important than ever.

The veteran day in Wilhelmshaven and the numerous accompanying events are a significant step to strengthen the connection between the military members and the civilian population. The dialogue and the appreciation that shape this day of honor give hope that awareness of the challenges and the valuable service of the veterans will continue to grow.