Faroese veteran honoured at first public veterans day

Faroese veteran Delmar Tórason received a medal for his service in the former Yugoslavia at the first official public veterans reception in the Faroe Islands, KVF reported.

The reception was held on Saturday, September 5, aboard the Danish defence vessel Lauge Koch. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Fisheries and Arctic Command organised the event for Faroese veterans and their families.

It was the first time Faroese authorities had helped organise an official reception in the Faroe Islands for the veterans’ flag day, which is observed across the Kingdom of Denmark for people who have served in international missions.

Tórason received the Defence Medal for Wounded in Service from Kim Simonsen, director of the Veterans Centre. He was deployed to the former Yugoslavia in 1995, where he served for six months and helped civilians, among other duties.

After returning home, he was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, which has affected his life ever since.

Thirty-nine Faroese veterans are registered, but the actual number is estimated to exceed 50. Some have not registered, while others live abroad.

The flag day was first held in 2009. It honours people who are serving or have served in international missions, remembers those who have died and recognises the families of those deployed. The observance also includes people sent abroad by Denmark from the police, emergency services, foreign service and healthcare sectors.