Slagelse (Denmark) has been named Veteran Municipality of the Year 2025 for its long-term efforts in developing support initiatives for former deployed personnel and their families.
According to a press release from the Danish Ministry of Defence, Slagelse was awarded the prize for its “sustained and solid engagement” in veteran issues. The award was presented by Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen.
– Slagelse Municipality has, through a lasting and strong commitment, established a commendable veteran initiative focused on development, and is therefore a worthy winner of the prize, says Troels Lund Poulsen in the press release.
The chairman of the municipal council, Knud Vincents, received the award and highlighted the municipality's tradition as a defence location, including the Gardehusarregimentet and Flådestation Korsør. He also pointed to the significance of having had a veteran coordinator since 2010 and the establishment of Veteranhjem Sjælland.
– This title makes us proud and obliges us to continue developing and expanding our support for former deployed personnel, says Knud Vincents in the same press release.
The Veteran Municipality of the Year award was established in 2021 and has previously been awarded to the municipalities of Randers, Copenhagen (København), Varde, and Aarhus (Århus). The prize consists of a travelling sculpture made from metal from a scrapped armoured vehicle, created by veterans on Funen (Fyn) together with teachers and students at the South Danish Business School (Syddansk Erhvervsskole).