Ambassador Obsitnik, Slovak Military Pay Tribute to Fallen American Soldier on Veteran’s Day

November 18, 2008

On a remote piece of land near Trenčianske Teplice, Ambassador Vincent Obsitnik joined Ministry of Defense State Secretary Daniel Duchoň, Commander of Slovak Land Forces Major General Milan Maxim and Brigadier General Juraj Krištofovič in a Veterans' Day event honoring Corporal Roland Morin. The distinguished company gathered at the site of a memorial honoring Corporal Morin and the other crew members of a B-24 shot down over the hills surrounding Trenčianske Teplice on December 17, 1944. While all other crew members parachuted from the burning wreckage, Corporal Morin was killed during this  incident. Brigadier General Richard C Johnston, USAFE/A5, and Štefan Škultéty, Mayor of Trenčianske Teplice, also attended the ceremony. In his remarks, which lauded the excellent cooperation between the Slovak and U.S. armed forces, bilaterally and in the context of the NATO Alliance, Ambassador Obsitnik said, “Corporal Morin paid the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today and the cooperation of people from diverse backgrounds sacrificed for their common values.” Ambassador Obsitnik concluded by saying, “The American people and I would like to recognize and thank Slovak, US, and  Allied veterans who sacrificed sixty-four years ago to bring freedom to the world.” The ceremony was covered by local television and national print journalists.