On 23 July 2016 (Saturday), it was 74 years since the shooting of Nikola Yonkov Vaptsarov, the namesake of the Naval Academy. On this date the Academy hosts a solemn wreath laying ceremony before the poet’s monument.

Commodore Prof DSc Boyan Mednikarov, the rector of Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy, met the official guests, who included Mrs Desislava Yosifova, Deputy Minister of Defence of the Republic of Bulgaria. The ceremony was also attended by members of the 43d Bulgarian Parliament, Mr Stoyan Pasev – the Governor of the Province of Varna, Mr Ivan Portnih – the Mayor of Varna, Mrs Nina Stavreva – the Mayor of the town of Kavarna,representatives of the City Council of Varna, the mayors of the Varna municipalities, rectors of Varna universities, principals of educational institutions from the city and the region, representatives of the maritime industry, the Academic Board, former heads of the Naval Academy, alumni, officers, academic staff, cadets and students. The academicians Georgi Markov, Vasil Gyuzelev, and Konstantin Kosev of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences had arrived from Sofia especially for the ceremony.

The ritual started with Rear Admiral Mitko Petev, Commander of the Navy, accepting the formation of the honorary guard. Commodore Prof DSc Boyan Mednikarov delivered a speech to mark the anniversary of Nikola Vaptsarov’s death. He highlighted some facts from the life and the work of the poet related to his training at the Naval Academy. Vaptsarov’s name is an unequivocal symbol of the spirit of the Bulgarian sailor and the glory of the Bulgarian maritime education, said Commodore Prof DSc Boyan Mednikarov. Rear Admiral Mitko Petev also addressed the attendees with a speech. It was followed by laying of wreaths before Vaptsarov’s monument.

Mrs Maya Vaptsarova, niece of the poet, made an emotional address to the Naval Academy’s alumni, cadets and students, commanders and academic staff.

The ritual finished with the honorary guard passing in review.