Chandigarh, September 22- Haryana Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal while paying homage to all the known and unknown martyrs of the state on the occasion of Haryana Veer and Shaheedi Diwas said that today we are breathing in the open air of freedom only because of the supreme sacrifice of the brave martyrs of our motherland.

In a message issued on the eve of Haryana Veer and Shaheedi Diwas, the Chief Minister said that Haryana has been the land of warriors, patriots and battlefields since ancient times. The history of Haryana is a saga of courage and valour of martyrs and heroes. He said that the state government celebrates Haryana Veer and Martyrs Day every year on  September 23 so that the coming generations of the state  know about the sacrifice of the brave martyrs who secured freedom for the nation.

He said that if we look at the military tradition of this state, we come to know that after the independence of the country, in the wars of 1962, 1965, 1971 and Kargil, the heroes of the state have shown their might. Even today, every tenth soldier in the country's army is from Haryana.