The children from the youth guard units held a meeting with their Patron, the President of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev. Youth from the II Student Guard Orchestra of Burgas, III Youth Guard Unit from the “Ivan Vazov” High School in Smolyan, IV Unit from the Vocational High School of Electrical Engineering and Electronics “Konstantin Fotinov” in Burgas, V Student Guard Unit from “Otets Paisiy” Primary School in Batak, VI Unit from “Hristo Botev” Secondary School in Aytos, and I Children’s Guard Unit from “Maya” Kindergarten in Plovdiv previously participated in a live broadcast on BNT’s special holiday program. In the Coat of Arms Hall of the Presidency, the captains of the units presented their pledges to President Rumen Radev, while the school directors gave special plaques. The guard is one of the symbols of the Bulgarian state alongside the flag, anthem, and coat of arms. As a token of gratitude for raising the patriotic spirit of the children, fostering enduring values and love for the country, the young guards presented Radev with an Orthodox icon on behalf of all 12 guard units, three student orchestras, and one children’s unit in the country. The icon of St. George, created especially for the president, was presented with wishes for health and strength, encouraging him to continue welcoming the children with open arms and drawing joy and inspiration from the patriotism of the youth guard units. For four years, the president has been the Patron of the youth guard units, uniting over 500 children and young people from across the country. Vice President Iliana Yotova greeted the children, urging them to continue preserving Bulgarian heritage and to honor the legacy of our ancestors. “I am happy that during the meeting with the President, respect and reverence were visible in the children’s eyes, and the live meeting with their idols from the Guard at the Presidency is a true celebration for the young guards,” said Dr. Denislava Angelova, the chairperson of the youth guard unit organization, after the meeting. The initiative for youth guard units was established in 2006 by the First Student Guard Unit in Kardzhali. Its aim is to instill love for the country, a sense of duty to the motherland, to showcase Bulgaria’s rich centuries-old history as the oldest state in Europe, and to teach teamwork and share the same fundamental values of the Bulgarian state. The initiative is not meant to militarize the children but to provide them with faith and strength to develop in Bulgaria, becoming future active and full citizens of Bulgarian society.
Photos: Official photographer of the President, Valentin Nikolov.
