Photo By Sgt. Brendon Green-Daring | U.S. soldiers assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, march...... read more read more
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MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU AIR BASE, Romania – U.S. Army soldiers assigned to Alpha, Bravo and Charlie Batteries, 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne (Air Assault), and other multinational forces participated in a parade during Romanian National Day Dec. 1, 2023, in Constanta, Romania.
Also referred to as Great Union Day or Unification Day, Romanian National Day marks the 1918 union of the different regions of Romania, consisting of Transylvania, Bessarabia, and Bukovina.
“Romanian National Day is the most important day of the year for all Romanians,” said Oana Copaceanu, Army Support Activity-Black Sea public affairs and community relations specialist. “On this day, in 1918, Transylvania joined Romania and formed Great Romania. This incredible event was a statement of the continuity of the Romanian nation across two thousand years of history, facing adversities and hard times but never giving up on the almost sacred dream of becoming one nation within the borders of the same country.”
With most having either work or school off on this holiday, the citizens celebrate with parades in the major cities of Romania. The city of Constanta, which is the biggest port in the country, hosted a parade to mark the occasion. Members of the Romanian Ministry of National Defense and other key leaders attended and saluted the displays.
Romanian Armed Forces and other NATO allies, including the U.S. Army, French Armed Forces, and German Army and Air Force, marched in the parade. The celebration also included a display of the Romanian military, the Romanian General Inspectorate for Emergency Situations, and police capabilities.
The holiday celebrations continued in Bucharest where a military parade occurred, followed by a speech from Romania’s President, Klaus Iohannis.
According to a recent Associated Press article, Iohannis described the day as a holiday “that brings Romanians together, no matter where we are, reconnecting us to the spirit of our national unity.”
This spirit was apparent in the crowds of Constanta, as many patriotic citizens wore the colors of the Romanian flag and spoke of their country's history. Luri Vasilicā Blioju was a Romanian citizen carrying a U.S., NATO and historical Romanian flag. He told of the strong connections between the U.S. and Romania and how he believes that the support from NATO and the U.S. helped build Romania into the country it is now.
The event in Constanta was an excellent way for U.S. soldiers to interact with Romanian counterparts and civilians, as young children ran to take photos with American soldiers immediately after the parade ended.
“We just assumed duties as a part of Operation European Assure, Deter, and Reinforce,” said Sgt. Chad Wright, a soldier assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne (Air Assault). “I am excited to be in Romania; I love seeing new places. Seeing Romanian parents and children celebrate their national holiday was rewarding. I am proud to be a part of that celebration.”
| Date Taken: | 12.01.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 12.06.2023 15:55 |
| Story ID: | 459213 |
| Location: | CONSTANTA, RO |
| Web Views: | 194 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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