First Veterans Day in Wilhelmshaven: Recognition for our heroes!

First Veterans Day in Wilhelmshaven: Recognition for our heroes!

On Sunday, June 15, 2025, the first Veterans 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 chamber. Council Chairman Stefan Becker, himself a veteran, emphasized the personal connections that many in attendance had with veterans. “We have to seek dialogue and value our soldiers,” explained Becker, underlining the purpose of the event NWZ Online.

A highlight of the day was the report from frigate captain Volker Kübsch, who talked about his deployment in the Red Sea in spring 2024. As commander of the “Hesse”, he protected merchant ships from attacks by the Yemeni Houthi militias. Kübsch impressively demonstrated how constant combat readiness and short reaction times affect the psychological stress on soldiers. “It is important that we talk about these experiences,” he emphasized, to promote understanding of the challenges faced by soldiers.

National Veterans Day

Veterans Day in Wilhelmshaven coincided with the first National Veterans Day, which will also be celebrated on June 15, 2025. This is organized by states, municipalities and reservist associations and offers many other places in Germany the opportunity to honor veterans. Especially for this occasion, the Bundestag has decided to support a variety of events that are intended to increase the reputation of veterans Veterans Day.

Various events take place all over Germany on this day. Field services, greetings, networking events and entertaining programs are planned, among other things. In Augustdorf, for example, there will be a combination event with music and grilled food, while a “March of Appreciation” will be organized in Duisburg. Sporting and cultural activities will accompany the honors of the veterans, such as a photo exhibition “Faces of Life” that will open in Euskirchen Veterans Day.

Social appreciation of veterans

Dr. During the event, Thomas Eisentraut, director of the German Naval Museum, addressed the question of how society treats active and former soldiers. He recommended targeting soldiers in uniform to learn more about their experiences and thereby raise awareness of their achievements. In times when missions are becoming more complicated and the demands on soldiers are increasing, this appreciation is more important than ever.

Veterans Day in Wilhelmshaven and the numerous accompanying events are an important step towards strengthening the connection between military members and the civilian population. The dialogue and appreciation that characterize this day of honor gives hope that awareness of the challenges and valuable service of veterans will continue to grow.