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This year, the Defense Forces launched its Advent telephone campaign again. As the holidays approach, the staff of the Military Administration and Central Registry will call retired soldiers, military pensioners, and war widows, thus making them feel that they can count on the extended family of the Defense Forces.
Major Károly Mészáros, Chief Human Welfare Officer, said in an interview that they take care of about 27,000 retired soldiers, military pensioners (who worked as civilians in the military), war widows, orphans, formerly injured soldiers, and rehabilitated soldiers, including personal contact. By November this year, they had made more than 5,000 such visits across the country.
Major Mészáros also noted that they had launched their Advent telephone campaign again this year. He recalled that personal visits were not possible during the COVID outbreak, but they were important because it is the older age group who are most at risk of becoming isolated.
We must help them to feel part of our extended family, the Hungarian Defense Forces,”
he emphasized.
The Major reported that as with the visits, the calls were welcomed by the people concerned and some specifically asked to be contacted more often. In many cases they can also provide practical help, he said, and there have been cases where a call has triggered the process of requesting help. He also mentioned that
the current phone campaign is paying special attention to single elderly people.
The Chief Human Welfare Officer called the social care system of the Hungarian Defense Forces unique. The Social Policy Public Foundation of the Hungarian Defense Forces is responsible for assessing applications for aid, and in addition to the annual budget, it can also draw on donations from individual donors.
This year, it has already helped more than 1,000 people with almost HUF 40 million (EUR 104,637).
Major Mészáros added that all kinds of support would also be provided for memorial services, including a dignified funeral and a substantial contribution to the costs of the memorial. The deceased soldiers are entitled to a funeral with military honors, a memorial allowance that covers a significant part of the funeral costs. Military pensioners who have completed at least 20 years of military service are also entitled to a bereavement allowance and a funeral service by a chaplain.
Widows and orphans are also assisted by the army, for example through healthcare, recreation, and assistance.
This year, the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Forces will again organize a Christmas event for orphans,
where the children and relatives of soldiers who have lost their lives in the line of duty and sacrificed their lives for their country will spend a morning together with the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the Defense Staff. The event will be hosted by President Katalin Novák who will welcome special guests to the Sándor Palace.
Via MTI, Featured image via Facebook/MH Katonai Igazgatási és Központi Nyilvántartó Parancsnokság
