A YEAR OF ANNIVERSARIES FOR SLOVENIAN FIREFIGHTERS

Abstract

2019 was a very important year for Slovenian firefighters: we commemorated the 150th anniversary of the Metlika Volunteer Fire Brigade; the 150th anniversary of organized firefighting in Slovenia; 70 years of the establishment of the Firefighting Association of Slovenia; and 50 years of the Dr. Branko Božič Slovenian Firefighter Museum in Metlika. We also commemorated the 70th anniversary of the creation of the firefighters’ anthem. The honorary patron of all the events was the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor. The firefighting events held in the jubilee year had a special emphasis and were of groundbreaking importance, as it was necessary to critically assess the work of the past decade with the leadership and the bodies of the Slovenian Firefighter Association, and to coordinate event programmes to display appropriate motivation for new goals in the next decade. The organizational committee was aware of its task to prepare the events so that they would primarily emphasize the enduring values of the firefighting organization and that the participants and guests would feel that they were an integral part of each story.