Bulgarian army reserve officers have requested that the Defence Ministry consider reintroducing two traditional army holidays that are no longer celebrated. The request was submitted to Defence Minister Nikolay Tsonev, as reported by the Focus news agency on May 26.

The Day of Flag Rescue was first proclaimed after the end of the Great War in 1919, and it was consecrated to the battle banners of the 18 Bulgarian infantry regiments that were besieged west of Skopje, Macedonia in October 1918.

The benevolent stance of Bulgarian troops, officers and NCO's (non commissioned officers) ensured that not a single Bulgarian battle banner was captured by the enemy. With all 18 flags brought safely back to Bulgaria after the end of hostilities, the Day of the Flag holiday was inaugurated and celebrated each year on October 2 until 1946 when it was abolished.

Meanwhile, the Day of the Bulgarian Military Song is a new holiday, which, according to the Union of reserve officers and sergeants, should be dedicated to October 2nd 1916, the date when the song 'Great is Our Soldier' was performed for the first time in the former Bulgarian capital of Ohrid.

Lieutenant general Stoyan Topalov, chairman of the union of reserve officers and sergeants reserve has submitted letters, official requests to the Defence Ministry, asking that these two historic holidays for the Bulgarian army are given the recognition they deserve, and re-instituted into the calendar.