03.12.2021.
Minister Stefanović presents awards to students, winners of "Our Soldier, Our Hero" competition
Today, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Nebojša Stefanović, PhD, presented awards to elementary school students, winners of "Our Soldier, Our Hero" competition, in the Military Museum Gallery. The competition was jointly organized by the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development.
The First Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia and Minister of Education, Science and Technological Development Branko Ružić and the Chairperson of the Selection Committee, Assistant Minister of Defence for Human Resources Katarina Tomašević also congratulated the awarded students and their teachers.Congratulating the award-winners, Minister Stefanović noted that only two months ago, the Ministries of Defence and Education signed an Agreement that helped this competition become part of the elementary school students’ creativity.
- I saw some of the works when I came and we will have the opportunity to look at everything you painted, made and wrote in detail. We want to see all your works of art which show how much you love our soldiers and our military. It is a reflection of the beautiful, patriotic spirit that our children have - Minister Stefanović pointed out.
The Minister concluded that children love our armed forces and that they are interested in what our soldiers do.
- I sometimes think that we can show even more clearly what our soldiers do, what they do for our children, because our soldiers and our armed forces are there for our people, they protect our children, provide us with security and safety, and make sure we sleep peacefully while they are doing their job - Minister Stefanović emphasized.
He is extremely glad that the works have arrived from all over Serbia and he said that selecting the best works was not easy.- The Selection Committee had a hard time deciding on who should win the third, the second or the first prize. For me, you are all winners, for me all works are the best, because they show emotions and commitment of your parents, and I know that parents are actively involved in this, and your teachers, who have been the vital link, and of course you, our little ones, without whom this would not have beeen possible - Minister Stefanović pointed out.
The Minister of Defence expressed hope that the students will be happy with the awards, including books, visits to museums and paid holidays in the mountains and other facilities of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces, where they will be able to enjoy with parents and friends.
- These are modest awards, but the Ministry of Defence gives them to you wholeheartedly. Our job is to acquaint you with what soldiers do, because it is a special profession - Minister Stefanović emphasized, noting that soldiers are the ones who protect our sky, rivers and land, protect our security, and make sure our little ones are happy, have smiles upon their faces, go to school, socialize and play.
That is why it is important to remember the soldiers, because each one of them is our hero, Minister Stefanović emphasized.
- So thank you for presenting them that way. I have seen some of your works here. I’ve seen the uniforms, caps and wide smiles you have drawn on their faces with so much love and I am glad you see them that way. We are always ready to take you to the barracks and show you what our soldiers do, including the things that are important for everyday life, because in addition to their regular activities, soldiers help people in emergencies such as fires, floods, etc. The military is always the first to help. And that is why I really view soldiers as our heroes, and I think that today, on Veterans Day, we must remember all those who fought for our country and made sure it is safe and free today - Minister Stefanović emphasized.He thanked all the participants in the competition for their huge effort and everything they have done.
- I hope you will participate in this competition in the coming years as well. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your close cooperation with the Ministry of Education. Minister Ružić and his associates have embraced this idea from the start, they have worked with us side by side and I think we have done a really great thing. We have agreed to expand this initiative and to make Serbia’s military and historical museums more accessible to schools. The support of all teachers and parents would mean a lot to us, because we want our children to learn what Serbia has done, what our armed forces have done for the safety and security of our citizens, what they have done to liberate this country, and we want to give you the opportunity to see a true national treasure - concluded Minister Stefanović.
Minister Ružić pointed out that the goal of the competition was to encourage students to think about our national history, high moral values, tradition and the identity of our freedom loving people.
- Students have shown in their works that we are proud of our soldiers and that this pride stems from the fact that we have always fought liberation wars and therefore have a plethora of heroes, and we are one of few nations that can boast of that. When you look at the military profession from that perspective, every young person can see that being a soldier means belonging to one of the most honourable and noble professions. Through their works, students practically discover and say that soldiers teach us the best and immortal examples of patriotism which are the result of deep, unconditional love for their people and state, which is confirmed by every soldier’s readiness to sacrifice their own life for that love - said Minister Ružić and expressed hope that this competition would become a tradition.Elementary school students, divided into two age groups, first-fourth grade and fifth-eighth grade, competed in the following categories: Serbian language, art, technology. The condition for participating in the competition, which lasted from October 11 to November 11, was that the work be original and creative.
The students who took first place in all competition categories are awarded a seven-day paid holiday accompanied by a family member in the rest and recreation facilities of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces. The same award goes for the awarded students’ class teachers and subject teachers.
The second-placed students in all categories have been awarded a guided tour of the Aeronautical Museum with a visit to the flight simulator, and the students who won third place were awarded books with dedication.
In the first-fourth grade age group, the first place awards were presented to:
- Luna Marković, 4th grade, "Crnjanski” Elementary School, Jagodina and teacher Jelena Gajić, for the best literary work;
- Sara Vučković, 4th grade, "Ćele kula" Elementary School, Niš and teacher Violeta Milićević, for the best art work;
- Aleksej Kuzma, 4th grade, "Slavko Rodić" Elementary School, Bački Jarak and teacher Ljiljana Karanović, in the technology category.
In the fifth-eighth grade age group, the first place awards were presented to:- Uroš Drašković, 8th grade, "Momčilo Popović Ozren" Elementary School, Paraćin, and teacher Dragana Spasić, for the best literary work;
- Anđela Crnić, 8th grade, "Rade Končar" Elementary School, Belgrade, and teacher Bojana Ražnatović, for the best art work;
- Petar Zdravković, 6th grade, "Vožd Karađorđe" Elementary School, Leskovac, and teacher Sladjana Dimitrijević, in the technology category.
In the first-fourth grade age group, the second place awards were presented to:
- Srna Simić, 2nd grade, "Aca Aleksić" Elementary School, Aleksandrovac, (literary work);
- Aleksej Radovanović, 4th grade, "Crnjanski" Elementary School, Jagodina (art work);
- Veljko Živković, 4th grade, "St. Sava" Elementary School, Niš (technology).
In the fifth-eighth grade age group, the second place awards were presented to:
- Miodrag Tadić, 6th grade, "Mića Stanojlović" Elementary School, Koceljeva (literary work);
- Nevena Maričić, 8th grade, "Karađorđe" Elementary School, Velika Plana (art work);
- Stefan Pavleski, 7th grade, "Branko Ćopić" Elementary School, Belgrade (technology).
In the first-fourth grade age group, the third place awards were presented to:
- Jovan Branković, 1st grade, "Žarko Zrenjanin" Elementary School, Veliki Laol (literary work);
- Dunja Vladimirović, 4th grade, "Ćele kula" Elementary School, Niš (art work);
- Kosta Lazarević, 4th grade, "St. Sava" Elementary School, Niš (technology).
In the fifth-eighth grade age group, the third place awards were presented to:
- Nađa Stanojević, 8th grade, "Vuk Karadžić" Elementary School, Negotin (literary work);
- Anđelija Dragojlović, 5th grade, "Vuk Karadžić” Elementary School, Priboj (art work);
- Matija Goranović, 6th grade, "Vožd Karađorđe" Elementary School, Leskovac (technology).
