The celebration of the significant 80th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) took place on Friday 30 August 2024 in Strečno at the memorial on Zvonica Hill. The participants came to honour the memory of the French heroes and partisans who sacrificed the most precious thing they had - their lives - for our future, freedom and democracy.
      The ceremony began with a wreath-laying ceremony. This was followed by speeches, a performance by students from the French bilingual high school, musical performances and a parachute jump by paratroopers from the 5th Special Forces Regiment (5th SFR) to mark the official opening of the celebrations.
      Their participation was confirmed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Juraj Blanár, the Director General of the Human Resources Department JUDr. Martin Rímeš, Erika Jurinová - President of the Žilina Self-governing Region, Colonel Peter Žochňák - Commander of the 5th Special Forces Regiment, Dušan Štadáni - Mayor of the Municipality of Strečno and Juraj Drotár - President of the Žilina Committee of the Slovak Union of Anti-Fascist Fighters.
      The Ambassador of the French Republic, H.E. Pascal Le Deunff, General Renaud de l'Estoile - Deputy Commander of the 1st Armoured Brigade, representing the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, and Colonel Stéphane Kayser - French Defence Adjutant, laid a wreath on behalf of the French Republic and paid tribute to the memory of French civilians and soldiers who fell in the battle.
      An interesting photographic exhibition was prepared for the public by the French Embassy in Slovakia on the initiative of Didier Rogasik, with the financial support of the Ministry of European and Foreign Affairs of the French Republic, in cooperation with the SNP Museum in Banská Bystrica and the Military Historical Institute in Bratislava.
      The programme of the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the SNP continued with static displays by the operators of the 5th SFR. The members of the regiment also organised a programme for children. They prepared an obstacle course for them, after which the children were rewarded with a small gift.
      The Association of the French Foreign Legion Retired had its place in the celebrations. Its members were also present to honour the memory of the French heroes.
      In the afternoon, the Commander of the 5th SFR, Colonel Peter Žochňák, together with Mrs Nicole Godard, President of the Association of French Deported to Forced Labour, and members of the Blaho family - the family of a French partisan killed in Brezno in December 1944 - went to Žilina, where the film "Naša Líza" by Veronika Homolová Tóthová was shown. Mr. Didier Rogasik,, sang the title song for this film with the band Roc'hann.