Soldiers' Home Association
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{{Infobox organization
| name = Soldiers' Home Association
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| native_name = Sotilaskotiliitto
| native_name_lang = fi
| logo = Sotilaskoti.svg
| logo_size = 250px
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| formation = {{start date and age|1921|df=yes}}
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| type = Voluntary association
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| location_city = Helsinki
| location_country = Finland
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The Soldiers' Home Association ({{langx|fi|Sotilaskotiliitto}}, {{langx|sv|Soldathemsförbundet}}) is the oldest national defense organization of Finland — having operated continuously since 1921 — and is based on volunteering. It is also a member of the National Defence Training Association of Finland. The association maintains the titular soldiers' homes ({{langx|fi|sotilaskoti}}, {{langx|sv|soldathem}}), which are recreational centers within garrison areas.{{cite web|url=https://intti.fi/en/free-time-off|title=Free time off|website=Intti.fi|publisher=Finnish Defence Forces|access-date=22 November 2023}} The customers of the soldiers' homes are mainly the professional and conscripted soldiers working in the garrison, visiting relatives, and reservists participating in refresher training.
The operation of the soldiers' homes is maintained by 4,800 volunteers and 170 paid employees. 36 local associations operate under the Soldiers' Home Association.{{cite web|url=https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000007964861.html|title=Munkit eivät enää erotu sotkussa varusmiesten ykkösherkkuna, energiajuomia sen sijaan kuluu – Perjantaina vietettiin Suomen sotilaskotijärjestön perinnepäivää|last=Huhtanen|first=Jarmo|work=Helsingin Sanomat|url-access=subscription|date=7 May 2021|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}} Joining the activity is voluntary, the only conditions are that the applicant must be at least 16 years old and have Finnish citizenship.{{cite web|url=https://www.sotilaskotiliitto.fi/toiminta|title=Toiminta|publisher=Soldiers' Home Association|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}}
History
File:A Finnish soldier's hut on Signilskär-Enskär, Åland, April 1944.jpg, in April 1944]]
Finland's first soldiers' home was opened by Helsinki NMKY on 15 April 1918 during the Finnish Civil War.{{cite web|url=https://www.hssky.fi/9|title=Taustaa ja historiaa|publisher=Helsinki-Santahamina sotilaskotiyhdistys ry|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}} Helsinki NMKY's Soldiers' Home work in Santahamina ended in 2004. The Salvation Army also belongs to the history of military domestic work. Its first soldiers' home began its operations in 1919 in Terijoki's Border Guard Battalion in Tyrisevä.{{cite web|url=https://www.rautu.fi/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/lehti_6_2001.pdf|title=Rautulaisten lehti|website=Rautu.fi|date=December 2001|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}} Women who were with the troops in the Civil War also started military domestic work in the fall of 1918. The Soldiers' Home Association itself was founded in 1921 (initially the name was Suomen Sotilaskotiliitto){{cite web|url=https://kansalliskirjasto.finna.fi/kansalliskirjastofikka/AuthorityRecord/melinda.(FI-ASTERI-N)000004294|title=Sotilaskotiliitto|publisher=National Library of Finland|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}} and its first president was {{ill|Katri Bergholm|fi}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.sotilaskotiliitto.fi/toiminta/sotilaskotiliitto_100_vuotta|title=Sotilaskotiliitto 100 vuotta|publisher=Soldiers' Home Association|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}}
Activity
File:Niinisalon sotilaskoti (1).jpg garrison]]
Soldiers' homes are run by local associations, and staffed for the most part by volunteers. Thanks to the volunteer "green sisters", the prices remain affordable.{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/3-5389078|title=Vihreän sisaren hymy on varusmiehen ilo|work=Yle|date=11 July 2011|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}} The military homes are famous for their donuts and other pastries. In addition to a cafeteria and kiosk, soldiers' homes typically have televisions, computers with internet access and a library. The purpose of the homes is to offer conscripts an environment where they can spend their free time; there is no compulsion to purchase anything. According to general service regulations, soldiers do not need to greet or address their superiors inside the soldiers' homes.{{cite web|url=https://www.nostalgisetnaiset.fi/sotilaskotisisaret-lottien-rinnalla/|title=Sotilaskotisisaret lottien rinnalla|publisher=Nostalgiset Naiset|date=8 March 2022|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}} The Defence Forces and the Border Guard support the operation by offering the properties for the Association's use without charging rent.
In military exercises and field camps, the Association operates from mobile canteens. These cars are also often present at public events where the Finnish Defence Forces are represented. In addition to locations in most Finnish garrisons, soldiers' homes may be found in large training areas, such as those of Pahkajärvi, Niinisalo and Rovajärvi.{{cite web|url=https://www.valkealansotilaskoti.fi/|title=Etusivu|publisher=Valkealan Sotilaskotiyhdistys ry|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sotilaskotiroi.fi/toiminta/|title=Toiminta|publisher=Sotilaskoti Rovaniemi|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}}{{cite web|url=https://varusmieslehti.fi/palveluksessa-pohjoisen-vihreat-sisaret/|title=Palveluksessa: Pohjoisen vihreät sisaret|first=Josefi|last=Tiirola|work=Varusmies|publisher=Varusmiesliitto|date=20 November 2022|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}}
Hymn and march
The Soldiers' Home Association has an official title hymn and march. The title hymn is "Kosketa minua henki" ("Touch Me Spirit"), composed by Ilkka Kuusisto. The title march is "Sotilaspoika" ("Soldier Boy"), composed by Fredrik Pacius, which is listened to standing at parties and sitting at concerts.{{cite web|url=http://www.sotilaskotiliitto.fi/files/9/vihre_kirja_2013_nettiin.pdf|title=Vihreä kirja|publisher=Soldiers' Home Association|date=2013|access-date=22 November 2023|language=fi}}
See also
{{Portal|Finland}}
References
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External links
- {{commonscat-inline|Sotilaskotiliitto|Soldiers' Home Association}}
- [https://www.sotilaskotiliitto.fi/en/ Soldiers' Home Association] – Official site
{{Authority control}}