Memorial ceremony on the occasion of the Day of Slovene-American Friendship and Alliance, on the 77th anniversary of the crash of the American B-17 bomber, Prime Minister Janez Janša laid down a wreath at the memorial plaque in memory of eight crew members who lost their lives

By: P.T.

Yesterday in Andraž nad Polzelo, Prime Minister Janez Janša attended a traditional ceremony marking the Day of Slovene-American Friendship and Alliance. The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, gave a solemn address at the traditional ceremony as a sign of Slovene-American friendship. Moreover, the US Air Force General Jason E. Bailey, commander of the 31^st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base in Italy also spoke at the ceremony.

On the 77^th anniversary of the crash of the American B-17 bomber, the Prime Minister laid a wreath at the memorial plaque in memory of the eight crew members who lost their lives. At the ceremony, the Prime Minister also signed in the protocol book of the municipality of Polzela.

Slovenian-American Friendship Day has been celebrated since 2014, when a memorial plaque was unveiled in Andraž nad Polzelo in memory of the crew of ten pilots of the B-17 bomber that crashed at the foot of Mount Oljka on March 19^th, 1944. Eight of them died and were buried at the cemetery in Andraž nad Polzelo, two survived the crash with the help of the inhabitants of Andraž.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia, Borut Pahor, gave a solemn address at the traditional ceremony as a sign of Slovene-American friendship. Moreover, the US Air Force General Jason E. Bailey, commander of the 31^st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base in Italy also spoke at the ceremony.

In their address, both speakers emphasised the strong and lasting friendship between Slovenia and the United States of America, which had strengthened after Slovenia joined NATO and the European Union. As General Bailey emphasised, Slovenia and the United States are also strengthening their ties through joint missions and trainings, and officers and non-commissioned officers of the Slovenian and American armies are also being trained in Slovenia and the United States. “Our partnership is strong and getting stronger every day. Together, we can meet any challenge if we maintain faith and shared values,” said General Bailey, expressing gratitude that today we can remember the people who gave their lives in the war.