06.05.2015.

The Guard Day marked

Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic, Minister of Defence Bratislav Gasic, Chief of General Staff of Serbian Armed Forces General Ljubisa Dikovic and Chief of General Staff of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia Lieutenant General Goranco Koteski attended today the ceremony held on the occasion of marking the Day of the Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces – 6th May at Dedinje barracks.

This year, the Guard marks 185 years since its foundation, and the ceremonial march of the members and the display of a part of capabilities and means of this unit were attended by representatives of the city authorities, numerous institutions, religious communities, diplomatic corps, and by representatives of MoD and SAF organizational units.

Congratulating the holiday to the members of this elite SAF unit, President Nikolic reminded of its tradition, stressing that its members had always been heroes, the pride of the people and the military; those who had passed through toughest ordeals and impeccably conducted each assigned task.

- Fate has given me the great honour to mark anniversaries of some of the most important dates in our history with members of the Guard. In three days, on the Red Square in Moscow, Serbian Guard Members will be taking part in a triumphant march, observing Day of Victory over Fascism, representing our every soldier and citizen – President Nikolic said.

According to him, Serbian Guard members will march in Serbian marching step in the same line with victors, while the whole freedom-loving world will see in them our Second World War fighters.

- They will march on behalf of Serbia, which has always in its history led only defensive wars, which has always been on the side of justice and freedom – President stressed. We broke Nazism and fascism with four years of fighting under occupation, making huge sacrifices on the altar of freedom, just as we did in the First World War. That is why today, when the world celebrates 70 years of victory over evil it is the right and duty of the Serbian army to take its honorable and deserved place among the winners – Serbian President stressed, adding that the honor to proudly carry the heritage of fighters against fascism, winners in both wars, had been entrusted to the oldest of the VS units, the Guard.

With the message to the Guard members to “carry that honor with dignity”, President Nikolic reminded that the Prince’s Guard received the White Eagle Order in 1898, and in 1958 was decorated with the National Hero Order, in 1975, the Order of Fraternity and Unit with the Golden Wreath, in 1980, the Order of Desert with the Golden Star, and in 2000 the Order of the War Flag of the First Degree.

- As of today, you will add into your honourable and proud history written only in greatest deeds the Order of the White Eagle. Proudly carry your flag made of heroic tradition, honour and heritage that have deservedly followed you since the day of foundation – President Nikolic stressed, decorating the unit on the occasion of the Day of the Guard, and ceremonially presenting it with the Order.

According to the Commander of the Guard Major General Milomir Todorovic, who was extraordinarily promoted to the rank of major general on the occasion of today’s holiday by the decree of the President, since the foundation of the first company of the Prince’s Guard 185 years ago, to this day, the Guard had been the face of the army and its people.

After the ceremonial march, today’s program was continued with a tour of the Memorial Guard Room, where, on the occasion of today’s holiday, on behalf of the unit members, General Todorovic presented President Nikolic with the first shell fired during the recently held ceremony in Takovo on the occasion of two centuries since the Second Serbian Uprising and the Serbian Armed Forces Day.

Members of the unit are responsible for protecting persons holding highest state and military functions, securing vital objects of the defence system and conducting military honours and protocols for national and foreign state officials.

Members of the Guard of the Serbian Armed Forces mark 6th May and 185 years since 1830, when the first company of the prince’s Guard – Gvardija was lined up in Pozarevac. This unit also included music in 1831 – “Prince’s Serbian Band”, prior to which Prince Milos Obrenovic asked the authorities to “choose the best young men by status and reputation”. During and after the end of WWII, the core of the Guard and the future Guard battalion was the Escort battalion of the General Staff of the National Liberation Army. On 1st November 1944, the Guard brigade of the Yugoslav People's Army was formed from the Escort battalion, and on 1st November 1994, the Guard brigade was formed.