“Today, the graduates of the National Defence Academy can be proud to continue servicing in the uniform of the national armed forces of their country with the Latvian flag on the shoulder. I am proud that the graduates of the Academy will always be ready to defend Latvia anywhere and anytime,” stated Raimonds Vējonis.
The President of Latvia acknowledged in his speech that many graduates of the predecessor of the NDA, the Military School, had no opportunity to fight for a free and independent Latvia. The Soviet occupying power killed or deported many graduates, and many of them were forced to serve under the flag and in uniforms of foreign armies, still the dream of a free Latvia was cherished deep down in their hearts.
The President of Latvia expressed his gratitude to the professional and enthusiastic faculty and management of the NDA, especially those, who started their careers as cadets of the Academy and now have already reached higher ranks.
