They gave their youth, their health, and sometimes their lives to protect Algeria. On the occasion of National Day of the People’s National Army (ANP), President of the Republic Abdelmadjid Tebboune paid them a solemn tribute. Army retirees, families of national duty martyrs, and individuals wounded in anti-terrorist operations were placed at the heart of a ceremony filled with remembrance, during which Army General Said Chanegriha issued a strong call: never allow their sacrifices to fade into oblivion.
Addressing high-ranking civil and military leaders, Army General Said Chanegriha emphasized: “Our duty today is to end the scourge of forgetting.” He stressed that expressing gratitude to these men and women was not merely a moral requirement, but also “a debt owed by the entire Nation.”
For the Chief of Staff, the individuals honored embody a vital chapter in modern Algerian history. They contributed to building the national state, endured the hardest years fighting terrorism, and helped defeat “treacherous schemes aimed at the security, stability of the country, and the unity of its people.”
Refusing to view their lives as those of ordinary retirees or wounded veterans, Chanegriha paid them a resounding tribute, stating that “they are not simple retirees or wounded service members. They are ambassadors of sacrifice, men who offered their bodies on the altar of dignity.”
Emotion swept through the audience as the Chief of Staff spoke of those who paid the highest price. “We bow before those who lost a limb defending the homeland, before those who lost their sight to illuminate our path toward security, and before the martyrs who fell on the field of honor, whose blood wrote the finest pages of victory,” he declared, noting that “these immense sacrifices remain the price of our security, our sovereignty, and Algeria’s greatness.”
Addressing ANP wounded veterans and families of national duty martyrs, he offered a message of loyalty and gratitude: “Just as you protected the Algerian people in the past, rest assured that the Algerian state will remain by your side, today and tomorrow. It will never forget your sacrifices and will continue supporting the families of national duty martyrs.”
The Chief of Staff also praised their allegiance to national values, pointing out that despite injuries and hardships, they remained true to their oath and refused to let their suffering be exploited to harm the country’s reputation. “You refused to allow your wounds to serve as an excuse for those seeking to discredit the state or undermine the morale of our people and Armed Forces,” he noted.
Concluding his tribute, he declared: “You defeated traitors just as you defeated despair. You wrote the finest pages of loyalty and proved you were worthy of Algeria, just as Algeria is worthy of you.”
For Said Chanegriha, this allegiance stands as a cornerstone of national cohesion. “A state that honors its loyal children and takes pride in their sacrifices is a state that no enemy, traitor, or saboteur can shatter,” he stated, asserting that “this unity among the people, their military, their leaders, and their heroes remains the best guarantee for the security, stability, and endurance of the state.”
The Chief of Staff further highlighted that preserving this memory is an obligation to current and coming generations. According to him, the sacrifices made by martyrs, wounded personnel, and veterans must continue to inspire dedication to the Nation and deepen commitment to the values that allowed Algeria to overcome the most difficult tests in its recent history.
Wrapping up his address, Army General Said Chanegriha extended congratulations to veterans of the National Liberation Army (ALN) as well as all active and retired ANP personnel. He also commended service members stationed along border lines and across the country, expressing appreciation on behalf of the President of the Republic for their “tireless efforts,” “constant readiness,” and daily commitment to safeguarding Algeria’s security and stability.