Today, on August 5, the Minister of Defence Margus Hanson declared the 10th international competition ERNA raid 2003 open. This year there are 28 participating teams coming from Estonia and abroad. In addition to earlier participants from United Kingdom, Lithuania, Sweden, Finland, China, Norway, Scotland and Denmark there are newcomers from Austria and Poland.
“The Erna raid reminds Estonians of one of the darkest periods in our history,” the Minister of Defence said in his opening speech. “But some brave men were still able and willing to put their lives at risk to fight for Estonia and for their people against the enemy much larger in number. With your presence you are also honouring their memory.”
The Minister of Defence also thanked the winners of the lately held mini-Erna and awarded them the Medal of Merit, 2nd class.