Skopje, 9 December 2025 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova presented the Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard, U.S. Major-General Gregory Knight, with an Order of Military Merit at a ceremony Tuesday in Skopje.

The President's Office said an Order of Military Merit is being awarded to Major-General Knight for his special contribution to deepening Macedonian-U.S. friendship and military cooperation, which has resulted in numerous activities aimed at strengthening the capacities and increasing the combat readiness of the Macedonian army.

“At today’s meeting and with today’s ceremony we are marking and honoring the friendship and partnership between the two countries, the two armies, the two peoples. It is a special honor to award the Order of Military Merit to the commander of the National Guard of Vermont, Major-General Gregory Knight,” the President said at the event.

President Siljanovska-Davkova highlighted the three decades of cooperation between the National Guard of Vermont and the Macedonian Army, noting that for 30 years the Vermont National Guard has stood decisively and firmly by the Macedonian armed forces, not only as a qualified, experienced, and committed instructor in numerous military and security exercises, but also as a reliable ally on the path to peace, stability, and democracy. The cooperation which began with a humble exchange of knowledge and experience has grown into one of the strongest and most successful military partnerships, the President said.

“General Knight, your leadership strengthened and left a special mark on the U.S.-Macedonian partnership in ways that cannot be simply measures in years, missions, or programs,” Siljanovska-Davkova stressed.

The President added that the Order of Military Merit is not just an expression of the country’s gratitude for Major-General Knight’s work, “but also of our particular respect for the values you personify: dignity, integrity, credibility, discipline, courage, empathy, morality,” she said.

“Commander, I thank you on behalf of my people and the Army. I think you for more than 30 years of cooperation, partnership, and fight for higher goals. I thank you for believing in us all. I thank you for establishing an unbreakable bond between Vermont and Macedonia, which I hope will continue to grow stronger,” President Siljanovska-Davkova underscored. 

Addressing those present at the event, Major-General Knight said receiving the Order of Military Merit means the world to him.

“I'm a soldier, I'm not supposed to get emotional. This partnership has by far been the most significant element of my military career of almost 43 and a half years. I've been coming to Macedonia for almost 25 years, and it has been nothing short of an incredible journey, relationship, and to me, the friendships we make here, they are real, they are sincere, they are bonding, and they are deep,” Major-General Knight said.

The Major-General added that this is not true just for him alone, but also for thousands of other members of the Vermont National Guard who have come to the country in the past 35 years, as part of the partnership.

“Madam President, can you imagine how many lives that has positively impacted? How many of our soldiers collectively have been, mutual benefit, have been trained and developed professionally? It is truly a remarkable program and, I'd be remiss if I didn't thank you specifically, and Ambassador, General Lafchiski. We don't do this by ourselves. I am so honored to receive this Order of Military Merit. Madam President, I will wear it on behalf of our soldiers and our airmen. It is their efforts that make this possible,” Knight stressed.

Looking back at the history of the partnership, Major-General Knight noted it is not just the work done to drive training and readiness, to build the Krivolak Training Area, to work to push the partnership beyond military to military.

“It is actually deploying together in 2010 to Afghanistan as the first example in the history of our partnership program across the National Guard, of our soldiers fighting together side-by-side. That's why this works. So, thank you so much, Madam President. Thank all of you for this incredible honor, distinct privilege to be here, to be some small part of it. And somebody has to keep the seat warm for us here. We're going to be back. Thank you so much,” Knight stressed. 

The event was also attended by U.S. Ambassador Angela Aggeler, as well as the Army Chief of Staff, Major-General Sashko Lafchiski. 

Photo: MIA