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August 15 – Romanian Marine Day
Romanian Marine Day is celebrated every year on August 15, at the same time with the Christian celebration of St.Mary's death, the sailors' patron. The tradition of celebrating Marine Day o August 15 was resumed after 1990. The Romanian Marine Day was decided by la3 382 os September 28, 2004 and was declared a national celebration as of 2009.
According to the website ww.navy.ro, Romanian Marine Day had been set up as of August 15, 1902, being closely linked to the religious celebration of St. Mary, the sailors' patron everywhere. Since then, its importance has grown every year. In 1912, the event was placed under the High patronage of Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth, and the first Romanian submarine “Dolphin” was baptized on August 15, 1936.
Over 1945-1953, Marine Day represented the celebration of the Russian Fleet Day and its ceremonial reduced, being determined by the intention of the then leaders to change the date of the celebration. According to decree no.309 of August 29, 1953, the decree of the Grand National Assembly presidium decided to celebrate the Military Marine Day on the first Sunday in August.
Law 382/September 28, 2004, repealed decree 203/1960, which stipulated the celebration of Marine as military and popular celebration on the first Sunday in August.
According to the present law, the Romanian Marine Day is celebrated every year on August 15, being a civilian and military celebration, marked by public authorities and the other state institutions with the organization of evoking programs and events, in the spirit of Romanian traditions, as well and military and religious ceremonies organized by the National Defence Ministry and the Interior Ministry.
This year, more than 10,000 tourists and residents of Constanta participated, on Thursday, on the seafront of the Casino in Constanta, in the demonstrations on the occasion of the Day of the Romanian Navy, delighting the public, especially the children, with the firing of cannon salvos, the parade of ships and military helicopters.
In order to be able to get a seat near the Fleet Command, some people came to the seafront even two hours before the start of the festivities.
Present at the demonstrations, president Klaus Iohannis reviewed and greeted the honor guard. The Romanian flag was then raised on the flagpole in front of the Fleet Command, and the flag, jack and decorations were raised on board the military ships, simultaneously with the singing of the National Anthem of Romania and the firing of 21 cannon volleys.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis declared, during the festivities organized for the Day of the Romanian Navy, that our country is recognized and appreciated at the allied level as a solid pillar of regional security and a major contributor to the process of strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense posture on the eastern flank .
“The Black Sea region has become an area recognized and treated as being of strategic importance for Euro-Atlantic security, and this fact was officially recorded in the most important strategic documents of NATO. Through dialogue and permanent involvement, we strengthened this approach including at the recent NATO summit in Washington, when all the allies emphasized that they remain firmly committed to the security and stability of the Black Sea region, a result that is very good for our country. Here, therefore, Romania is recognized and appreciated at the allied level as a pillar solid regional security and a major contributor to the process of strengthening NATO’s deterrence and defense posture on the eastern flank,” Iohannis said.
The Romanian president also stated that Romania is a safe and stable country and recalled the political, diplomatic and military effort of our country in the context of the war started by Russia against Ukraine.
“Even if we live in times marked by multiple security challenges, Romania is today a safe and stable country, irreversibly on the path of democratic development, alongside partners and allies from the European Union and NATO. Here, on the shores of the Black Sea, in the vicinity Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, we see more clearly than ever the results of Romania’s political, diplomatic and military efforts in recent years. Today, our country benefits from the most solid security guarantees, and Romanian citizens are defended and protected against any potential threats,“ stated the head of state.
The President listed some of Romania’s initiatives in the field of regional security, including the establishment of an Operational Group for Combating Marine Mines in the Black Sea, alongside Bulgaria and Turkey.
“Since 2015, we have established and operationalized numerous NATO structures in Romania, and the presence of our allied comrades, who train alongside the Romanian military on the national territory, has grown constantly, reaching a number of approximately 5,000 allied soldiers deployed in Romania. This collaboration denotes our firm commitment to defend each other, according to Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Italy, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Spain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Canada, Turkey, Greece, North Macedonia and Luxembourg. At the same time, I thank the air forces of Finland and Great Britain, which recently completed the air police mission in Romania,“ continued the head of state.
Iohannis emphasized that Romania continues to be an important pillar of regional and Euro-Atlantic security. “We remain in solidarity with our NATO Allies and European Union partners in the assistance efforts dedicated to Ukraine, which has been fighting for over two and a half years against a brutal and illegal aggression,” the president added.
Klaus Iohannis told the sailors that the devotion, tenacity and spirit of sacrifice that define them are an example of excellence, and the Romanian Naval Forces are a symbol of national power and resilience.
“In the current, increasingly challenging security context, including in the maritime environment, the role of the Romanian Naval Forces in ensuring freedom of navigation and maritime security is essential. On the occasion of the Romanian Navy Day, in appreciation of the high professionalism and the outstanding results achieved , we followed the proposal of the Minister of National Defense and decorated the Battle Flag of the General Staff of the Naval Forces with the Order of ‘Maritime Virtue’ in the rank of Commander with a sign of peace for the military”, the president said.