The leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the National Army's General Staff laid wreaths today at the monument to medieval ruler Stephen the Great and at the Eternity Memorial in Chisinau to mark the 19th anniversary of the foundation of the National Army, Info-Prim Neo reports. At one of the flower-laying ceremonies, Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta said the Army has reached an age at which it can be proud of some achievements and can make plans for the future. “I'd like to congratulate all those who are related in any way to the National Army and wish them prosperity and good health, and may we fulfill our duties so that the Moldovan citizens feel proud of their army”, said Vitalie Marinuta. Also today Moldova's acting president Mihai Ghimpu conferred a first rank Order “Credinţă Patriei” (Fealty to Motherland) on the National Army's Engineer Battalion and promoted a number of army commanders, including Vitalie Marinuta, to the rank of brigade general. On 3 September 1991 the then Moldovan president Mircea Snegur appointed a task force to create the National Army. The first central body of the National Army was created on 24 April 1992.