policy_strategy

Finland marks Veterans' Day

Finland celebrates Veterans' Day on 27 April, a tradition since 1987, with this year's national main celebration in Saint Michel under the theme 'Together, looking towards the future'. President Alexander Stubb and Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen participated in the ceremonies to honour the sacrifices of veterans for an independent Finland.

Finland marks Veterans' Day

On Monday, 27 April, Finland marks Veterans' Day, a commemorative occasion that has been observed since 1987. Among those participating in the ceremonies is the country's president, Alexander Stubb, who attends the main celebrations in the city of Mikkeli (southern Finland), while Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen delivers a speech dedicated to the country's veterans. The Ministry of Defence also marks the occasion on social media.

Veterans' Day has been celebrated annually in Finland since 1987, and this year Mikkeli (southern Finland) hosts the national main celebration. The theme of the main celebration is "Together, with our eyes on the future", according to a press release from the Finnish Army.

A press release from the Presidential Palace states that Finland's President Alexander Stubb and his wife Suzanne Innes-Stubb are attending the celebrations by visiting Mikkeli on Monday. Among other engagements, the presidential couple will meet veterans and Lotta Svärd members at the Veterans' Day main celebration at the Mikaeli concert and congress centre in Mikkeli.

Finland's Ministry of Defence also marks the occasion, and in a post on X they express their gratitude to the country's veterans.

"We thank the veterans, the Lotta Svärd members, and the entire wartime generation for their sacrifices for an independent Finland," they write.

Finland's Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen delivered a speech on Monday dedicated to the veterans and the burden they carried.

"The wartime generation bore by far the heaviest burden in the history of independent Finland. A free Finland was paid for at a great price, for the sake of future generations. Now it is the turn of our generations to carry our share of the responsibility for the welfare and security of our homeland," he said in the speech.

FAQ

När började Finland fira veterandagen och vad är temat för 2026 års huvudfest?
Finland har firat veterandagen årligen sedan 1987. År 2026 anordnar S:t Michel den nationella huvudfesten, och temat är 'Tillsammans, med blicken mot framtiden'. Det är ett tema som betonar både minne och framåtblick för landets krigsveteraner. Senast faktagranskad: 2026-04-27.
Vad gör president Alexander Stubb under Finlands veterandag den 27 april 2026?
President Alexander Stubb och hans maka Suzanne Innes-Stubb besöker S:t Michel under måndagen den 27 april. De träffar veteraner och lottor vid veterandagens huvudfest i konsert- och kongresshuset Mikaeli. Presidentparets deltagande framgår av ett pressmeddelande från presidentkansliet. Senast faktagranskad: 2026-04-27.
Vad säger försvarsminister Antti Häkkänen i sitt tal på veterandagens huvudfest?
Försvarsminister Antti Häkkänen framhåller i sitt tal att krigstidens generation bar det tyngsta ansvaret i Finlands historia. Han betonar att det fria Finland betalades till ett högt pris för kommande generationers skull. Häkkänen understryker att nuvarande generationer nu måste bära sin del av ansvaret för fosterlandets säkerhet. Senast faktagranskad: 2026-04-27.